Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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595. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated amount spent by her Department on the procurement, purchase and rent of new office space; and the amount spent on the procurement, purchase and rent of office equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [51101/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The procurement, purchase, refurbishment, renting and leasing of Government offices is the responsibility of Property Management Services in the Office of Public Works, which acts as an agent for all Government Departments. The number, terms and cost of the leases is a matter for the OPW.

I can confirm to the Deputy that new office space in Blanchardstown was acquired for the Education Shared Business Services (“ESBS”), which is a section within my Department that hosts some of the shared service operations required within the education sector.  The OPW procured the lease on behalf of the ESBS and would have incurred the associated procurement, rent and refurbishment costs on behalf of my Department.

My Department has directly procured office equipment in the nature of furniture and fittings for the new office space in Blanchardstown with the total amount of expenditure incurred in relation to this fit-out between 1 January 2019 and 11 October 2021 amounting to €345,773.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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596. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of offices currently being rented or in ownership of her Department which are currently not in use by the Department. [51118/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The procurement, purchase, refurbishment, renting and leasing of Government offices is the responsibility of Property Management Services in the Office of Public Works, which acts as the agent for Government departments and offices. The number, terms and cost of leases is a matter for the OPW. I can confirm to the Deputy that office buildings occupied by my Department are in use.