Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me raise this motion, thank his staff for processing it and the Department for preparing a response. I thank the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, for coming to the House to respond on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government on the need for that Minister to confirm the approval of a loan to Roscommon County Council for the development of new civic offices in Roscommon town and to verify the date the original application was made for this loan, the amount sought and when the application was previously approved. Furthermore, I seek confirmation of when the approval of the loan was made by him as Minister, the amount sought, the terms and conditions and date sanctioned.

For some years, Roscommon County Council has been planning the redevelopment of its offices in Roscommon town, where it needs new centralised civic offices. The preparatory work has been going on some time.

As a former member of Roscommon County Council, I supported the processing of the loan by the previous Government. My colleague, Michael Finneran, who was a Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government at the time was extremely helpful in ensuring approval of Roscommon County Council's application for the loan in order that the work could be carried out. We relocated the fire service to Circular Road in Roscommon town after a site there was made available. We removed temporary prefabricated buildings which had been used by the former Western Health Board. As a result, the site is very compact.

The development of these offices to accommodate approximately 250 staff would result in the centralisation of the services of Roscommon County Council in Roscommon town. In the light of new developments in local government, it is important that we retain that type of facility in Roscommon town to service the county. Roscommon town has had council offices since the 1800s. Roscommon courthouse was the centre for the services and senior staff now have offices there. However, the courthouse needs to be refurbished to facilitate sittings of the District Court, the Circuit Court and the High Court in circuit. The children and family courts are also very important. All of these consultations are taking place in the foyer of the building, which is totally unsatisfactory. The Courts Service will have further additional responsibilities relating to the care of children if the children's rights referendum is passed on 10 November. It is important for proper facilities to be provided, as the existing services are not suitable. The provision of new offices for Roscommon County Council would allow the courthouse to be used exclusively for court services, as originally intended.

We are fortunate to have the headquarters of the Roscommon-Longford division of the Garda Síochána in Roscommon town. We are also extremely fortunate that the General Register Office and the Property Registration Authority have been decentralised to the county town. It has been said there is spare capacity in these buildings. The Garda Síochána is moving some of its facilities to the General Register Office, while the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is moving some of its services to the Property Registration Authority. The Government is ensuring all State services will be combined in suitable buildings. If those buildings are environmentally designed with proper heating and lighting facilities, there will be a reduction in costs in the long term. The council is paying an enormous amount in rent. It would be far more desirable to have these rents put towards a loan. I hope the Minister will be the bearer of good news on this occasion.

This issue has created controversy in Roscommon. Very few country towns would decline a loan to build new civic offices. It is unique. As the Minister knows, we have been campaigning for services at Roscommon County Hospital. In this case, some people are campaigning for a decision to be made to refuse permission for this building to proceed. It is ironic that the Minister is here to deliver good news for the people of Roscommon on this occasion. I am sure they will be waiting with bated breath to hear his response.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am responding to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, who is not available. I thank the Senator for raising it.

Local authority office accommodation is a matter, in the first instance, for local authorities. However, they are expected to provide such accommodation in the most cost-effective manner possible, having regard to their needs and resources, a point the Senator has made clearly. In that context, future plans for the council office in Roscommon are a matter for Roscommon County Council, essentially, based on its assessment of the position.

A formal application to borrow ¤26 million was submitted to the then Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in October 2007. As the Senator pointed out, approval for the loan was granted in April 2008. A revised application to borrow ¤22 million for the project was submitted in January 2010 and approved on 19 March that year, in accordance with section 106 of the Local Government Act 2001. Sanction was provided subject to the council being satisfied that it was receiving the best possible terms available, making sufficient provision in its annual budgets for the repayment of the loan charges over the repayment period and being satisfied that the financing of the project would not adversely affect the provision of council services during the repayment period. I am sure we would all be very strong on that point.

I am advised that the fragmentation of local authority offices in Roscommon at eight locations, just two of which are fully owned by the county council, causes operational inefficiencies, including the need for staff to spend time delivering files and post and attending meetings at various locations in the town. There are additional indirect hidden costs to the council as a result. I understand issues regarding health and safety, staff welfare, fire safety, disabled access and facilities for the public and elected members have necessitated the extension and refurbishment of the existing headquarters. I understand Roscommon County Council has negotiated a loan of up to ¤22 million from the Housing Finance Agency over 40 years at a variable interest rate. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has completed the necessary steps at his end to allow the council to proceed with the work, in accordance with the conditions I have outlined. It is a matter for the council to do so in accordance with the sanction provided.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his comprehensive response. When I was chairman of the former Western Health Board, I promoted the development of new offices for the health board in Roscommon at a cost of approximately ¤5 million. We have since spent ¤3 million on the rental of inadequate facilities in Roscommon. That this was allowed to happen is an indication of the manner in which the health service was managed at the time. The Minister can consider it in the context of the future development of services and buildings, etc. However, I do not want something similar to happen in the case of Roscommon County Council. I welcome the Government's clear decision to support the project which I hope will proceed.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I concur with the Senator that it does not make sense to rent premises for a prolonged period of time rather than building a new premises. Of course, one has to factor in maintenance costs. Obviously, a new building will require less maintenance than an older one. There will never be a better time to buy because property will never again be as cheap. We have a real opportunity to develop modern, well insulated and low-maintenance buildings heated using renewable energy resources. The Government is glad to support this initiative.