Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I have already answered the Deputy's last question about when the decision was made. The decision was made by Enterprise Ireland. The agency has been undergoing significant change over the past two years. It has launched a very impactful strategic vision for the future and is very clear in its focus following the report of the enterprise strategy group on what it must do to develop and grow indigenous enterprises in this country. The feedback from many small to medium sized enterprises across the country is very positive in terms of the impact Enterprise Ireland is having on the growth of indigenous enterprise, particularly exports, and the need to help companies internationalise and globalise more quickly than we possibly did heretofore.

A considerable number of recommendations emerged from the enterprise strategy group's report relating to how Enterprise Ireland should reorganise itself in terms of its core functions, particularly in areas like research and development, technology supports, sales and marketing, internationalisation and the connection between both. Therefore, the need for integration was important. The idea of the agency being scattered in four offices around Dublin does not make sense. The different locations came about because Enterprise Ireland emerged from the amalgamation of a number of State agencies, all of which had their own buildings. In terms of the future of Enterprise Ireland, it makes sense to locate the agency in one office in Dublin for its Dublin-based staff. It has an asset which it can now sell and realise significant returns on as a result of this particular decision.

The lease was signed on 13 September for a single site in Eastpoint Business Park. As I previously stated, the cost amounts to €2.9 million per annum, which is €20,077 per square foot plus service charges. Enterprise Ireland has taken a normal commercial 25-year lease on two office units in Eastpoint. The lease has break clauses to enable Enterprise Ireland to effectively manage changes in accommodation levels and factors in the flexibility needed for it to comply with the Government's decentralisation programme. The decision makes sense in terms of what Enterprise Ireland is doing. The agency will realise a significant asset in selling it as a result of this decision. Critically, in terms of its own objectives and remit, the decision will facilitate a far greater degree of integration of functions for the future.

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