Written answers

Wednesday, 27 October 2010

Department of Agriculture and Food

Departmental Offices

8:00 pm

Photo of Ulick BurkeUlick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 547: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the cost of the lease and rent of his Department's office in an area (details supplied); if he is concerned at the continuation of this situation in the context of value for money when Departments are looking at ways to reduce costs; if he will reconsider, as was originally announced by the Minister, that the office would move to available suitable premises at Mellows College, Athenry which will be conveniently located for the customers and at a much lower cost; if he will outline the annual costs to his Department for each of the years since they moved from Hynes Buildings; if he will name the owners of the facility now occupied by his Department; if he will clearly indicate the reduced requirement of space as against the original space contracted for; if he will provide information on the matter; if he will indicate if any outstanding obligations exist on the Hynes Building and for how long more are the contract obligations on the Dockgate facilities to run; if he considers other Departments commitment to this contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39427/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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All issues in relation to leases for Government Departments/Offices, including my Department is a matter for the Office of Public Works. However, earlier this year, my Department vacated a significant amount of the space previously occupied at Dockgate in Galway in order to accommodate additional staff of the Department of Social Protection, which resulted in a significant saving in the rental cost paid on behalf of my Department.

My Department's local office reorganisation plan provides for a reduction from 58 to 16 the number of offices from which the Department will provide district veterinary, forestry and agricultural environment and support services in the future. Significant progress has been made in the implementation of that plan with ten new regional offices already established and 22 associated offices closed to the public.

A further six additional regional offices will be established to complete the plan, of which one will be in Counties Cavan, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kildare and Offaly and I expect shortly to confirm which offices will be part of the next phase of the implementation plan.

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