Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the value for money audit regarding the rent of the Department of Agriculture office at Dockgate, Galway; the rent per year the Department is paying for that office; his plans to build a new departmental office within the environs of Galway city or if he will relocate the present business being done at Dockgate to Mellow's College in Athenry, thereby making the office much more accessible to the vast majority of farmers in County Galway and which would also result in having more of the services available to farmers located in the one place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32614/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works has primary responsibility for the provision of accommodation to my Department. In a recent review of the cost of accommodation and the options for alternative premises the OPW has availed of a break option in the current lease. It is not sustainable to be paying rent when space is available in other state owned buildings in the area. Accordingly, my Department is working with the OPW to make new arrangements to locate staff of the Galway Regional Office, with both short and long term requirements informing any decisions taken.

There are no plans to build any new facility for my Department in the Galway area. Similarly, there are no plans to relocate the operations carried out at Dockgate to Mellow's College, Athenry.