Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his view that he or any agency funded by him who own properties in office complexes in which a management company is in place, should take an active role in the running of such management companies including the appointment of a nominee to the board of the company in order to protect the investment of taxpayers' money. [1158/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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In response to the Deputy's question, The Office of Public Works is the property manager for the civil service.

The Office Public Works have informed me that while it would be normal practice to have a management company involved in the maintenance/management of facilities such as apartment blocks, the position in multi occupancy commercial office buildings is different. If the OPW, or any other tenant, takes a lease in such an office building, the responsibilities of both the landlord and the tenant are clearly set out in the lease.

Service charges are paid in respect of the maintenance of common areas, cleaning, etc., and these are also set out in the lease. The lease is the legal contract between the tenant and the landlord and the rights and responsibilities of both parties are clearly set out in the lease. There are clearly defined and understood remedies for both parties in the event of a breach of any lease covenant by either party. In OPW's experience, it would be most unusual to have a management company involved in a multi occupancy office building.