Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 125: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of buildings her Department are renting within the State; the rental costs of these rentals in 2009; the average length of the leases of these buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12287/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department and the 8 Offices of my Department are currently occupying 11 buildings within the State.

With the exception of a building in Shannon occupied by the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA), none of the buildings or premises occupied by my Department and the 8 Offices of my Department is rented or leased by the Department or the Offices concerned. In general, all buildings and premises occupied by my Department and its Offices are provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) without any cost to the Department or the Offices. In many of those cases the buildings/premises are rented or leased by the OPW and the information requested by the Deputy, in relation to any rental costs in 2009 and the average length of the leases for the various buildings, could only be supplied by the Office of Public Works.

NERA's Shannon accommodation is held under a four-year licence agreement between the OPW and NERA on the one hand and Westpark Shannon Limited on the other. The licence agreement commenced in February 2009. The licence fee, which was payable by NERA in 2009, amounts to €156.08 per square metre, subject to a maximum charge of €32,480 per annum (exclusive of VAT). Since 1 January 2010 the OPW has assumed responsibility for the payment of the licence fee costs for NERA's Shannon accommodation.