Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current use of the former Enterprise Ireland sites at Merrion and Glasnevin, Dublin; the annual cost of maintaining these sites; his future plans for these sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13585/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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When Enterprise Ireland was established in 1998 it became a strategic objective to bring all Dublin based staff together in one location. This was achieved with the move to East Point Business Park in September 2008. Until this time, Enterprise Ireland occupied four office locations in Dublin, primarily as a result of the amalgamation of various state agencies into a single organisation over a number of years to support indigenous enterprise. From an operational perspective, occupying four separate locations in Dublin was not satisfactory for an Agency mandated to provide a range of services and expertise in a holistic manner across several critical business functions.

The leases on two of the buildings occupied (Merrion Hall and IPC House) expired in Quarter 4, 2008 and the properties reverted to the landlords.

The offices occupied at Wilton Park House reverted to Forfas which already occupies the building. The Glasnevin site, which is owned by Enterprise Ireland, was vacated by the agency in September 2008. The National Metrology Laboratory of the National Standards Authority of Ireland remains on a part of the site that will be retained. The remainder of the Glasnevin site was assigned to the Affordable Housing Initiative by a Government decision made in April 2008. Following the completion of a feasibility study by the Affordable Homes Partnership, the Government decided on 13 January 2010 that the site was no longer required for the scheme. The OPW are now carrying out an evaluation of the site to determine its best utilisation for public service use.

The cost of maintaining the Glasnevin site is approximately €1m per annum, made up of local authority rates €620k, security €240k, heat / light / power €120k and general maintenance €20k. There are annual savings of approximately €3m, in addition to significant operational efficiencies, resulting from the Dublin HQ centralisation move to the East Point Business Park. Pending a final decision by the OPW, EI engaged Estate Agents in December 2010 to explore potential leasing options for the property.