Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Miesian Plaza provides modern, efficient, headquarter office accommodation for the Departments of Health and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, as well as ancillary accommodation for the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. At approximately 14,000 sq. m, Miesian Plaza is one of Dublin’s most significant Government accommodation locations and one of the first leadership in energy and environmental design, LEED, buildings in Ireland, which is a third-party verification system for green buildings meeting best international energy efficiency and environmental standards. Miesian Plaza provides modern, energy-efficient, fourth generation office space for almost 950 workstations. It has allowed the occupying Departments to move from a cellular working environment to one that is modern and collaborative.

The rent being paid by the OPW in respect of the offices at Block 1, Miesian Plaza is in accordance with the terms of the lease and therefore has not been revised since the lease commenced. An ambiguity around the measurement standard used as a basis for the rent calculation at Miesian Plaza was first identified during the course of an internal OPW review and, subsequently, in an examination by the Comptroller and Auditor General of the lease process in early 2018. Since the issue was identified, the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland have continued to engage with the landlord regarding the measurement standard applied. At the most recent meeting, the landlord requested some time to consider the matters discussed and undertook to revert to the OPW. It is expected that communication with the landlord will be ongoing to enable final resolution of any outstanding matters.

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