Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

A number of issues arise in this regard. First, we need to reduce waste. Are other sections of the public service in buildings where the lease can be broken or has almost expired and could they use the space in Carrisbrook House? Have all Departments been notified of the existence of this space? This is a considerable sum of money for a vacant property in a prime location.

What initiatives are being taken with regard to future leasing arrangements and are lessons to be learned about this kind of thing? For some time, I have been trying to compile a list of buildings across the public service that are subject to upward-only rent reviews. Some are extraordinarily expensive. I am trying to find out how many of them are vacant because I am sure viable uses could be found for some of them. For example, €800,000 is being paid for a social welfare office in Carrick-on-Shannon. That figure jumped out at me. Is there a cross-departmental initiative to see if a lease can be broken and the space in this building made use of, what lessons have been learnt and what lease arrangements will be made in the future, given the experience we have had?

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