Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of buildings his Department has rented in each county in the country that are, at present, being fully utilised; the number of buildings his Department rented which are empty, idle and not being used; the cost incurred by his Department in renting these buildings, with separate figures for the ones that are used and the ones that are unused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14512/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Matters relating to the acquisition and leasing of property for the Department are generally the responsibility of the Office of Public Works (OPW). Independent of this arrangement, my Department leases three properties. These are the Burren Information Point, premises located at Shanacloon, Ballymakeera, Co. Cork and premises in Swords, Co. Dublin.

The Burren Information Point has annual rent of €8,155. In May 2011, a lease was finalised to facilitate the new Burren National Park Visitor Information Point in Corofin. The first quarter of the agreement was exempt from rent to allow the NPWS to initiate the fit out of the new centre and the sum of €6,116.25 was paid in 2011. An interpretation planner was engaged to plan, design and oversee the production and installation of the Interpretation at the facility. The newly completed visitor facility will officially open at the beginning of April for 2012 season.

The Underwater Archaeology Unit's storage and maintenance facility is located at Shanacloon, Ballymakeera, Co. Cork, which has annual lease of €21,780 and is being fully utilised.

Finally, the premises located in Swords, Co. Dublin, is leased from the Office of Public Works by the National Museum of Ireland. A payment of €105,000 was made in 2010 to avail of storage facilities for archive material relating to the National Monument Service. A share (c. 14%) of this accommodation is provided to the National Monument Service. A one year rent free period arose for the facility in 2011 and rent will become payable again from mid 2012. This premises is also being fully utilised.