Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Has the Taoiseach's Department or any other Department carried out a cost-benefit analysis of any of the decentralisation moves that have already taken place? Has there been any evaluation of the net benefit, of the monetary impact and how it impinges on the performance and the smooth running of the said relocated Departments or sections of Departments? Will the Taoiseach give the House an indication if such an exercise has been carried out?

With regard to the various land banks and properties that have been purchased in preparation for planned relocations, I understand there are currently at least five sites that have not yet been developed in preparation for the relocation of the targeted Departments. Among those are two sites in County Waterford that cost in excess of €10.1 million of the €16.3 million involved in the five sites to which I refer — at Waterford and Dungarvan. There was another site in the Taoiseach's constituency in Offaly, one in Kilkenny and one in my constituency, in Cavan, where the Department for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the HIQA offices were to be located. Will the Taoiseach indicate whether all of these are greenfield sites, or if there are properties involved that would entail ongoing maintenance and security? Is there a continual outlay in terms of the maintenance, upkeep etc. of any or all of these sites, and can he indicate whether the Government intends to proceed with the roll-out of each of the signalled relocations to the five sites in question?

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