Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. It would represent a saving, but how was this allowed to happen? What was the Minister's knowledge of it? When did it come to her attention or that of the previous Minister? How could something like this be allowed to happen, where €10.4 million of taxpayers' money was spent on a property that is empty?

The Minister has given me the background to the case, which I appreciate. I appreciate that she is trying to do her best, but is she standing over this waste of taxpayers' money? When did the Department become aware of it? What have we learned from it? Is this being repeated in other buildings? We had this experience with the HSE in Galway, where it had to break a lease and pay almost €1 million. There is something seriously wrong with Government Departments that tolerate this type of policy.

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