Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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166. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans in relation to a project (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5232/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In October 2013, sanction was received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to proceed with the extension to the existing Government Offices at Old Abbeyleix  Road, Portlaoise to facilitate the consolidation of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine staff. However, funding was not provided and, consequently, this project has not been advanced. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine consider it a priority that staff are consolidated in order to reintegrate and co-locate different business areas that have cross-over functions. The OPW has been working with the Department with this consolidation in mind and in 2014, three leases in Gandon Court, Portlaoise were surrendered.

OPW proposes to commence a space audit of the State owned Government Offices on the Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise in the coming weeks. This will establish the potential for consolidation of staff through re-configuration of the space with a more modern open plan layout and furniture.

The provision of the extension will be reviewed following completion of the space audit.