Seán Conlan (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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124. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection for a list of all buildings surveyed and evaluated by the Office of Public Works, which it has furnished or not to her, regarding the provision of a new building in which to house the Department of Social Protection offices currently situated on Main Street in Ballybay, County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2265/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) is the exclusive procurer of office accommodation for the Civil Service and the sole authority for allocating space to the Civil Service. While we are aware that the OPW looked at a number of properties, we are not aware of the extent of survey and evaluation. Following visits to a number of properties, the OPW narrowed their list down to two properties that would meet the accommodation brief previously submitted by my Department. These properties were:

1. Ballybay Enterprise Park, Ballybay, County Monaghan.

2. Teach O’Cleircin, Monaghan Town, County Monaghan.

Seán Conlan (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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125. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the instructions she gave to the Office of Public Works on providing office space in which to house the Department of Social Protection offices currently located in Ballybay, County Monaghan; what was taken into consideration when reaching the decision to give such instructions; if she was lobbied or requested by any public representative or third party to have these offices removed from Ballybay and placed in Monaghan town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2266/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Office of Public Works were presented with a brief of requirements from Department of Social Protection that would meet the immediate Department’s accommodation needs in the Monaghan area. These needs included a building that would accommodate the following:

- 32 number of staff

- Public and back office accommodation requirements (2-4 PSC Booths & 1 Interview Room, reception and a waiting area).

- Storage and communications rooms

- Staff toilets and rest room

- Canteen facilities, post/store room, etc.

The key considerations for the Department included, the need to ensure that all outstanding Health and Safety issues with the current/proposed building would be adequately addressed; the need to ensure that the existing/new building could serve the public (for taking Public Services Cards) and accommodate the additional staff that were being assigned to the unit. The provision of a Public Services Card Centre for the public in County Monaghan was an urgent business need of this Department. The OPW, our procurer of property, had other issues to be addressed, including resolving issues relating to the existing/new building, complying with the new Building Control Regulations 1997-2015, and the associated costs of any remedial or fit-out works.

The Department has not been lobbied or requested by any public representative or third party, to have these offices removed from Ballybay and placed in Monaghan town.