Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the proposed building of new offices for staff participating in the decentralisation scheme in the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Food in Portlaoise, County Laois; the projected costs, works and timeframe for the new offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43389/09]

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of a new headquarters building in Portlaoise for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in conjunction with a new headquarters for the Department of Education and Science in Mullingar, and decentralised offices for staff of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Carlow, is being pursued by means of a Public Private Partnership as a single Design, Build, Finance and Maintain Contract.

Following completion of a pre-qualification process and invitation of tenders, discussions have been ongoing for a number of months with Macquarie Partnerships for Ireland on matters related to financial and technical aspects of the project. Planning permissions have been received for all three buildings. The anticipated construction period is 20.5 months. The award of a contract is subject to Government approval.