Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

One of the first actions the Government took was an examination of the public property portfolio, on which the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, has done sterling work. It is the first time we actually have a database of what public offices the State owns.

We discovered that there are many things from which we cannot get out because we are stuck with long-term leases and other contractual arrangements. That is really important work and it is being carried out by the Minister of State to ensure that we sweat out proper value for the buildings we own, many of which are not fully utilised, and that we are not leasing buildings we do not need when we can occupy buildings we already have. Everything the Deputy said is a rock of sense and will be acted upon by the Government.

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