Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not think in time left I could deal with the lessons that have been learnt from the property problems we inherited. Numerous lessons have been learnt, as the Deputy knows.

The Office of Public Works, OPW, which manages all public office property, has been notified of this building on repeated occasions. The OPW has signalled that there is not a demand for the type of accommodation on offer and that it did not foresee a need for such accommodation in the foreseeable future. This reflects the decentralisation programme that took people out of Dublin and the downsizing of the public service that is reducing the pressure on property in the capital. There have been efforts to sell this building. It has been upgraded and work has been done to put it in a better position to market from this year.

I do not know how much property is vacant or whether or not we can get out of leases and vacate others that are coming up for review. Every effort is being made and we try to work closely with the Office of Public Works. Forfás has been repeatedly in touch with the OPW, even as recently as September of this year. It is a very close relationship.

See this speech in context