Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will itemise the number of buildings that his Department leases; the annual rental and average price paid per square metre; if any review of the leases has been initiated to seek lower rents in the context of the current financial position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42700/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed by the Office of Public Works that they manage 458 leases, with an annual rent of â'¬10,000 and above, involving 380 buildings that are either wholly or part leased on behalf of the State. The type of buildings leased comprises mostly office accommodation but also includes stores, Garda Stations, etc. The rental bill for 2009 is â'¬120m. The attached table schedules the lease detail, occupancy and buildings held under these leases.

This year, OPW has initiated a strategic review of the central Dublin office portfolio with a view to reducing the annual rent bill. The freeing up of pockets of space in Dublin by staff that have decentralised has created the ideal opportunity to evaluate and improve on current performance in the areas of rental costs and space occupancy densities, the two key efficiency drivers. This programme will involve: Surrender of a number of leases, (initial surrenders earmarked to occur in 2010 will achieve annual rental savings of c. â'¬6 million). The consolidation of our client Departments and Agencies into the State-owned portfolio and the better quality long-term leasehold properties.

Where leases provide for rent reviews, OPW is pro-actively negotiating with Landlords to achieve best value for money within the confines of the relevant lease terms.

LEASE SCHEDULE