Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

A total of €18.8 million has been spent on acquiring sites in respect of those projects which are being deferred pending a review in 2011. The locations in question are Birr, Cavan, Dungarvan, Edenderry, Thomastown, Thurles and Waterford. In addition, a site has been purchased at Knock, at a cost of €390,000.

Approximately €4 million has been spent to date by the OPW on the costs of renting and fitting out of mainly Civil Service properties in advance party locations where permanent accommodation has been deferred pending a review in 2011. A further €1.194 million has been expended by FÁS in respect of the advance office at Birr, €856,000 was expended by the Health and Safety Authority in respect of its Kilkenny advance office and approximately €305,000 has been expended by Pobal in respect of its premises at Clifden. Staff in such locations will remain in place.

In addition, I am informed by my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, that in parallel with the decentralisation process, Enterprise Ireland strengthened its regional focus in recent years and now has a major presence in the Shannon region in addition to its nine other regional offices. Certain functions previously carried out by Shannon Development under delegated authority from Enterprise Ireland reverted to that agency on 1 January 2007 and, as part of this process, a number of posts from Shannon Development transferred to Enterprise Ireland. The agency strengthened its regional presence by establishing its new regional development headquarters in Shannon and also houses its county enterprise co-ordination unit there. Six posts were assigned to the new office in Shannon from Dublin to manage this new regional headquarters. At present, there are 66 staff working in the Enterprise Ireland's Shannon office. The annual rent on the regional development headquarters in Shannon is €336,600. The tendered contract sum for the fit out was €1.43 million, including VAT.

The Deputy may wish to know that total income from property disposed of in Dublin between January 2004 and December 2007 was €355.9 million. In addition, property valued at €75 million was transferred to the affordable homes partnership. The OPW has also agreed joint venture redevelopment schemes with a minimum value of approximately €125 million up to the end of 2007.

Further details of non-property costs expended by location have been sought from relevant Departments. I will write to the Deputy separately in this regard shortly.

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