It is estimated that this year the Office of Public Works will spend in excess of €100 million on renting accommodation for Government Departments. The corresponding figure for the year 2000 was €55 million. Thus, the overall cost of renting accommodation has increased by more than 80%. The plan to use some proceeds from the sale of Lad lane to buy out the leasehold interests in some of the properties rented by the Office of Public Works will go towards containing the growth in the rental bill.