Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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655. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated amount spent by his 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. [51099/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department currently has two office areas:

- 2nd and 3rd floors, Block 1, Miesian Plaza, 50 - 58 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2; and

- 2nd and 3rd floors, Montague Court, 7 - 11 Montague Street, Dublin 2. 

My Department has occupied its headquarters in Miesian Plaza since May 2018. This building is leased by the OPW - the rent is paid directly by the OPW and not by my Department.

My Department has occupied Montague Court since October 2020 and pays rent for the use of this building. The table below shows the rent paid to date in relation to this office space. Please note rent is paid 3 months in advance and Department of Justice, from whom we took over this office space, had already paid for quarter 4 of 2020.  Therefore the rent paid by my Department in 2020 relates to quarter 1 of 2021.

My Department previously occupied an office on Mespil Road from June 2011 until May 2018. This building was leased by the OPW, and the OPW paid the rent for that building also.

In addition, a Commission of Investigation which falls under the remit of this Department operated from 73 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2 from January 2015 to March 2021.This building was leased by the OPW, who also paid rent for that building.

My Department also had a number of staff co-located with Pobal at 100 Mount Street from September 2017 to December 2019 working on the development of the National Childcare Scheme. The table below shows the rent in relation to this office space.

The first table below provides details of the amount of rent paid in relation to DCEDIY offices since 2011.  

The second table below shows the amount spent on office equipment - please note this also includes IT costs. The increase in costs from 2017 relates to the remodelling of Mespil Road due to the expansion of my Department.  This included costs related to the upgrading of IT systems at that time.  The increase in 2018 relates to the costs incurred for the kit-out of Miesian Plaza and the further change in IT related to the move to the services of the OGCIO. The increases in 2020 and 2021 relate in part to the change of service provided, e.g. much improved services that allowed the Department to move relatively seamlessly to remote working.  Additional office equipment was also purchased for staff working at home due to COVID-19.  The Transfer of Functions from Department of Justice which took place in October 2020, whereby we gained an additional 100 staff approximately and also 2 floors in Montague Court also led to additional costs.  The IT infrastructure in Montague Court had to be completely upgraded and IT equipment had to be purchased for the additional staff.  The increase in costs also relates to the expansion of the Department and the increase in staff numbers - over and above the staff who came under the Transfer of Functions.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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656. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of offices currently being rented or in ownership of his Department which are currently not in use by the Department. [51116/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I can advise the Deputy that my Department does not currently rent or own any offices which are not in use by my Department. My Department has two office areas:

- 2nd and 3rd floors, Block 1, Miesian Plaza, 50 - 58 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2; and

- 2nd and 3rd floors, Montague Court, 7 - 11 Montague Street, Dublin 2. 

Both of these offices are occupied on a daily basis.