Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 328: To ask the Minister for Finance the office space occupied by public services activities listed for decentralisation as early movers; its location and floor area; if it is owned or leased; and if it is planned to dispose of the space post decentralisation in each case. [32421/05]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 329: To ask the Minister for Finance the size of the office space planned in each of the decentralised locations designated as early movers; the site area being acquired and the estimated cost of the site and of the building where this is available. [32422/05]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 328 and 329 together.

The office space occupied by public service activities in Dublin which have been designated as early movers is in the region of 90,000 square metres. This comprises State owned space and leased space. The question of which vacated buildings will be disposed of is under consideration. Ultimately, any decisions on disposals will depend on a range of factors, including the following: The particular requirements of the Departments remaining in Dublin; the specific circumstances associated with each building, including location, quality and design, tenure, office area and whether it is leasehold or freehold; the timing of property sales are directly affected by prevailing market conditions; and the timing of the relocation of staff to decentralised offices. The area of space which will be acquired in decentralisation locations will be broadly equivalent to the space being vacated in Dublin. The cost of acquiring sites-properties for the early moving Departments is estimated to be in the region of €47 million, excluding VAT.

Although property solutions will include leasing and fitting out of existing buildings, it is anticipated that, in the majority of cases, the accommodation facilities will be provided by the construction of new office buildings and cost estimation can be approached on this basis. However, in advance of actual market testing of any procurement methodology, it is possible, at this time, only to assign the most general measurements of cost to such a large scale, diverse and complex programme.

Current OPW cost norms in respect of standard office accommodation would indicate an average build-cost to fit-out standard, in the range of €1,800 to €2,200 per square metre in suburban-rural locations. Such figures exclude VAT, professional fees, inflation and site-works. In addition, the cost of equipping the accommodation to standard office equipment levels could be estimated at circa €4,000 per person. This would exclude the cost of information and technology and specialised equipment requirements.

Such general measures of cost do not include specialised facility and equipment requirements and other variables, which would arise from the spread of possible procurement methodologies. It should be noted that general cost indicators of this type are subject to change over time.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for Finance the disposals of property in Dublin which have occurred under the decentralisation programme to date in; the revenue they have yielded; and the activity relocated to facilitate the disposal in each case. [32423/05]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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There is no property disposed of in Dublin to date in 2005 as a direct consequence of decentralisation. The following properties have been disposed of in accordance with the transforming of State assets programme.

The following properties are currently on the market to be disposed before the end of 2005,26-27 Eden Quay, Dublin 1 and the former Veterinary College, Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.