Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Defence the nature of the office arrangements that will be put in place to facilitate his presence in Dublin when the Houses of the Oireachtas are in session in view of the move of the departmental headquarters from Dublin; the costs of such new office arrangements; the staff numbers required to facilitate his presence and the ancillary costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9293/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The headquarters of the Department of Defence is being decentralised to Newbridge, County Kildare. A new building to accommodate the Department is currently under construction and will be ready for occupation in the summer. The building will provide accommodation for the civil servants in the Department who are currently based in Dublin, together with a number of military personnel. The Secretary General and the Chief of Staff, together with their respective senior civilian and military colleagues, will also be relocated to Newbridge. As this will be the headquarters of the Department, the office of the Minister will also be based there. In line with normal practice for Ministers, the Minister will retain an office in Leinster House. No new office arrangements or staff are being put in place to facilitate the Minister's presence in Dublin and, therefore, no costs arise.

In order to facilitate the conduct of business at the Houses of the Oireachtas and other business engagements in Dublin, it has been decided that officials of Departments whose headquarters are decentralised should have access to office accommodation in close proximity to the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Office of Public Works has provided accommodation to the Department of Defence for this purpose at Phoenix House, South Leinster Street.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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That seems to be another Irish solution whereby the Government closes one office and creates two others. The new accommodation is obviously provided free of charge but renovations will have to be carried out. Recently, it cost €200,000 to renovate an office for the former Taoiseach in Molesworth Street. What will be the cost of renovating the new offices for the officials in this instance?

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The accommodation which is being provided in Phoenix House consists of four cellular offices, an open plan space and a meeting room. Although the cost of the accommodation will be borne on the Vote of the Office of Public Works, I understand the building is leased and the lease will expire in 2012. This accommodation became available when the previous occupant vacated a space and thus a new lease was not required. I understand that the long-term plan is that requirements of this nature from all Departments and offices for temporary space on an occasional basis will be accommodated in Agriculture House.

I emphasise that the accommodation will not be occupied on a permanent basis. It is for the temporary use of senior civilian and military officials while on business in Dublin.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Is the cost mentioned in the brief? I asked for that.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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No.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Obviously, it will cost something.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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It is incorporated in the Vote of the Office of Public Works. I shall attempt to find the information for the Deputy.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Is it envisaged that the temporary or part-time accommodation being provided in Dublin will be in use at times other than when the House is in session, or is it intended to have officials present to brief the Minister while the House is in session and that otherwise the Minister will work at his or her office in the new building in Newbridge?

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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It is my understanding that the office will be used only when officials required to be available to the Minister need to be adjacent to Leinster House and that otherwise the Minister will be based in the office in Newbridge.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I hope the next Minister will actually use his offices because the previous Minister did not visit his office on too many occasions.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Too many questions.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister use his office?

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Signals are a very important part of military life. I will not be drawn.