Written answers

Wednesday, 31 January 2007

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Departmental Properties

8:00 am

Photo of Dan BoyleDan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether the new 25 year Enterprise Ireland lease on two buildings in Dublin is in line with the Government's decentralisation programme; and if his Department has issued particular guidelines to other Government Departments and public bodies regarding the entering into of property arrangements in the greater Dublin area. [39080/06]

Photo of John PerryJohn Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason Enterprise Ireland has taken a 25 year lease on two office blocks in Dublin even though the agency is due to decentralise to Shannon; if he has been in contact with Enterprise Ireland on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2601/07]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together.

The details of Enterprise Ireland's leasing arrangements in order to meet its business needs and health and safety obligations, is an operational matter for Enterprise Ireland, and not one in which I have a function. However, it has been a key strategic objective for Enterprise Ireland to bring all Dublin based staff together in one location since the Agency was established in 1998.

Managing an Agency, which currently occupies four separate locations in Dublin, is considered sub-optimal. This is particularly the case as the Agency is mandated to provide a wide range of services and expertise in a holistic fashion, across several critical business functions. One of the options considered to address the issue was that of developing the Enterprise Ireland's Glasnevin site to provide accommodation for all Dublin staff.

However, following the introduction of the Government's decentralisation programme in December 2003, the option of a major investment in new purpose-built premises on the Glasnevin site was deemed to be inconsistent with the proposed decentralisation of some 300 of Enterprise Ireland's 600 Dublin based staff to Shannon.

Enterprise Ireland nevertheless faced the same operational challenge of operating from four separate locations across Dublin. Crucially having all Dublin based staff in one location will enable Enterprise Ireland to further deliver on one of its most important initiatives, the creation of integrated teams of staff with complementary expertise to service client companies.

The substantial number of remaining staff, plus the fact that the leaseholds on two of these premises are due to expire in 2008, meant that the Agency had to decide on an appropriate office solution that would, on the one hand provide suitable accommodation for the staff currently spread across the four separate Dublin locations, and on the other hand give Enterprise Ireland the flexibility to comply with the Government's decentralisation programme.

Having explored a number of possible solutions, the Board of Enterprise Ireland decided that the single site office solution offered in the East Point Business Park was the most appropriate from a number of perspectives, including value for money and flexibility. In September of 2006, following the Board decision, Enterprise Ireland signed a commercial 25-year lease on the two units in East Point. The leases have in-built break clauses, plus a clause to enable the Agency to sub-let space, if required.

Guidelines regarding property arrangements in the greater Dublin area, aimed generally at public service organisations, are more appropriately issued by the Department of Finance or the Office of Public Works.

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