Written answers
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Department of Agriculture and Food
Decentralisation Programme
5:00 pm
Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the moneys under the decentralisation programme for the period from 3 July to date in 2008 that have been expended, properties purchased and employees decentralised specifying all relevant locations under each of these headings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32108/08]
Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Department submits a quarterly return to the Decentralisation Implementation Group that details the non-property costs of the programme such as travel and overtime. To the end of June 2008, the last reporting deadline, the costs reported for the programme to date amounted to €147,031. Figures for the third quarter will be available in October.
The acquisition of property for the decentralisation programme is dealt with primarily by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and they have supplied the following details of the site acquisition at the four locations. This information is for the period of the programme to date; no property has been purchased since 3 July.
| Location | Site Area | Status |
| Portlaoise | 9.13 acres | Purchase completed in 2007 |
| Clonakilty | 3.1 acres | Purchase completed in 2005 |
| Macroom | Site of 5 acres identified; planning issue on appeal to An Bord Pleanála | Purchase agreed in principle subject to contract, outcome of planning appeal and Government approval. |
| Fermoy | 4.1 acres (at Teagasc, Moorepark) | Purchase agreed in principle subject to contract and Government approval. |
The Clonakilty decentralisation offices are due to be completed in Quarter 1 2009, at a cost of approximately €21m. Pending delivery of the permanent accommodation, the OPW has leased accommodation for the Department in Portlaoise on a temporary basis, as follows.
| Premises | Lease | Rent p.a. | Area | Fit-out |
| € | € | |||
| 2nd & 3rd Floors | 5 years from 25 April 2005; Expires 24 January 2010 | 191,000 | 14,224 sq. ft plus 80 car spaces | Nil |
| Blocks A & B | 5 years from 20 January 2006; Option to terminate lease every 3 months from 20 January 2009 | 264,640 | 15,920 sq. ft plus 100 car spaces | 106,000 |
| Ground & 1st Floors | 5 years from 30 November 2007; Option to terminate lease every 6 months from 29 November 2010 | 75,000 | 4,359 sq. ft plus 35 car spaces | Nil |
Pending delivery of the permanent accommodation, the OPW has leased accommodation for the Department in Clonakilty on a temporary basis, as follows.
| Premises | Lease | Rent p.a. | Area | Fit-out |
| € | € | |||
| Block C, West Cork Technology Park | 2 years from 1 July 2006; Extended to coincide with delivery of permanent offices | 159,480 | 12,400 sq. ft. | 134,900 |
| Block G, West Cork Technology Park | 2 years from 1 June 2007 | 118,910 | 9,363 sq. ft. | 116,744 |
Since 3 July the Department has assigned 26 staff members to Portlaoise and 1 to Clonakilty.
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