Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

When I examined the annual accounts of the Equality Authority last week, I was astounded to see that it is paying an annual rent of €402,000 for its premises on Harcourt Street. If I remember correctly, it spends a further €30,000 or €40,000 on parking. A premises has been rented in Roscrea for €102,000. Twenty staff are already in place at that location, in line with the Government decision on decentralisation. It was decided in this year's budget that any organisation, not just the Equality Authority, that had already rented accommodation in decentralisation locations, as the authority had, would be allowed to continue to use that accommodation. Such organisations do not have to deal with rent increases etc. If the staff of the Equality Authority relocate to Roscrea, the organisation will benefit from a saving of approximately €300,000 in respect of rent alone. Further savings of approximately €22,000 will accrue from the proposed reduction in public relations activity. It is possible for the authority to save €10,000 in consultancy fees. Funds are still being provided to those involved with the 2007 European year of equality. Savings in that regard could yield €320,000. Some €35,000 is spent on the annual anti-racism week. The authority engaged in a costly and controversial once-off anti-ageism campaign. Deputy Shatter raised it in the House with me.

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