Mr. Seamus McCarthy:

When representatives of Caranua came before the Committee of Public Accounts, before the committee were the financial statements for 2014 and 2015. From the correspondence received from Caranua and the Department, it is my understanding the situation changed in 2016. The OPW was the leaseholder of the premises in which Caranua was accommodated. Under the lease it paid rent to the landlord. It obviously has a large portfolio management operation, but when the time comes, there is a review and break option. It examines the accommodation and decides it is no longer suitable and that there is a need to move to a new premises. It might have subletting agreements with public bodies. As I understand it, Caranua's landlord is the OPW, but the OPW is passing on the cost it is incurring. Caranua has not paid rent on its current premises. There was a note in the financial statements pointing to the fact that the OPW was carrying the cost of its rent for the first number of years.