Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 24: To ask the Minister for Finance the cost to date of the purchase of sites for office facilities for relocated Departments and State agencies under the decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18431/05]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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The Commissioners of Public Works have primary responsibility for sourcing property solutions for the Departments-agencies which have been earmarked for decentralisation. Following a detailed evaluations of options available and intensive negotiations, suitable sites have been identified in a number of decentralisation locations.

Prices have been agreed for 13 locations and the contractual arrangements for these are progressing. The cost of acquisitions in these cases is estimated to be in the region of some €25 million, excluding VAT. State owned sites have been identified in a number of other locations, including Athlone, Sligo, Furbo and the Curragh and these are being made available for decentralisation purposes.

While prices have yet to be agreed, the process of acquiring sites in several other locations is at an advanced stage and the expectation is that several more acquisitions will be agreed in the coming months. Overall, the site acquisition programme is progressing satisfactorily and is well placed to facilitate the roll-out of the construction phase of the programme. All going according to plan, construction work will commence in several locations before the end of this year.