Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 222: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will itemise the number of buildings that her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [42702/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The sourcing of property on behalf of Government Departments is a matter for the Office of Public Works.

The only lease currently held by my Department is Block D, Irish Life Mall formerly accommodating the Women's Health Council which has been recently incorporated into my Department. The annual rental on this property is €98,000 @ €367.68 per square metre.

My Department is actively working to secure new tenants to take over the remainder of the lease or a part thereof. If this effort is not successful, we will consider all available options, including a possible buyout of the remainder of the lease, in consultation with the OPW.