Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I have done some research and I have listened to the Minister of State's answer very carefully. He is saying that the national metrology laboratory is using a small part of the site at a cost of €140,000 a year. I have no problem with this. However, the remaining €1million - €860,000 in the difference - is being used to maintain a site that is not in use and has not been in use for several years. That is the Minister of State's answer. He may wish to clarify if it is not his answer.

I have two brief supplementary questions on that point. There had been a plan that this area would be used for the forensic science laboratory and this has now been changed. There had been a plan for it to be used for affordable housing. Is it still intended to use the site for affordable housing or has this plan also been changed? Is it not the case that other areas of the Department, including some agencies directly under the Minister's purview, are renting offices at a cost of hundreds of thousands of euro? How can the Minister of State justify a situation whereby one part of the Department is spending hundreds of thousands of euro renting private offices when the Department is spending hundreds of thousands euro to maintain empty offices?

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