Multimillion-euro saga of decentralisation to Laois takes new twist after two decades

A process is underway that could end the spending of taxpayers' money renting offices around Portlaoise that was caused by the Government's costly decentralisation programme.

The concentration of Department of Agriculture operations in two buildings in the Laois county town is being worked on with some of the existing five rented buildings to transfer to Laois Offaly Gardaí for use while their Divsional HQ in town is being redeveloped.

The latest twist in the costly property saga that resulted from decentralisation in 2003 was revealed in the Dáil by Laois Offaly TD Carol Nolan.

The Indpendent TD asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue for a report on his consolidation plans for his Department's offices in Portlaoise.

The Minister replied in writing.

"Earlier this year, the Office of Public Works (OPW) approached my Department regarding the Department of Justice's plans for the refurbishment of the Garda Station in Portlaoise. Officials in my Department were informed that An Garda Síochána (AGS) would require an alternative premises while the refurbishment works were being carried out.

"Separately, OPW were aware of my Department’s long-held wish to consolidate our footprint in the town and suggested a refurbishment of Government Offices in Old Abbeyleix Road to allow staff from the Grattan Business Park complex (124 staff) to be accommodated both in this building and a second building in Portlaoise that contains Department staff (EIR building). This consolidation will free up Pavilions A and B of the Grattan Business Park complex for use by AGS during the refurbishment.

"Local management have consulted extensively with staff, unions, committees and the OPW regarding all aspects of the consolidation. The process of vacating the Grattan Business Park complex Pavilions began in early August. Refurbishment works at Government Offices on Old Abbeyleix Road are being carried out on a phased basis with an expected completion date of February next year," he said.

The Minster outlined the impact of the changes. READ MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: Grattan Business Park complex on Portlaoise's Dublin Road has been rented since 2006 for the Department of Agriculture.

"The move will result in approximately 535 Portlaoise-based staff consolidating from five buildings to two. This will both reduce the building footprint and costs for my Department and also enable staff to be able to engage and work together in a more cohesive setting. The business of my Department will remain unaffected during this period. I welcome the consolidation and the collaboration with OPW to meet cross government needs," he said.

The reply is the most significant development in the saga of decentralisation which has resulted in the spending of millions of euro in rent and a property purchase.

As recently as 2018 it was revealed the the Department was spending more than €800,000 annually in rent and storage space in Portlaoise. Figures obtained by the now Minister Seán Fleming related to Eir building on the Old Knockmay Road, the Grattan Business Centre on the Dublin Road, a warehouse in Kyleikiproe and an office in Kilminchy.

The Leinster Express reported in 2011 that the Grattan Business Centre cost over €265k to rent annually after being leased in 2006. It's fit out for use by about 100 staff cost €100k 18 years ago. The Eir building cost €191k to rent annually after a lease was signed in 2005.

A previous Government scrapped plans to build a new HQ via a public-private partnership in 2009. This was followed by the leasing of land from the IDA at its Business and Technology Enterprise Park in Portlaoise for a new HQ for 800 staff which the OPW wanted to complete by 2014. 

The land lease cost taxpayers €1 million and planning permission was obtained but that plan was shelved in 2013 during the recession with the OPW opting instead to expand the HQ on the Abbeyleix Road. READ MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: The IDA park on Mountrath Road in Portlaoise where the OPW has leased land. 

The OPW said in June 2024 that it had no plans for the land which it holds on a 999-year lease. A proposal to accommodate the gardaí there temporarily failed to proceed. In a further twist, IDA Ireland acquired lands beside the Business and Technology Park in Portlaoise in 2022.

All this spending stemmed from a surprise Budget speech by Charlie McCreevy when he was Minister for Finance in 2003. He announced a Fianna Fáil / PD Government plan to move thousands of civil servants out of Dublin under a decentralisation plan.

Apart from renting offices for the Department of Agriculture in Laois, public money was also spent on offices for the Equality Tribunal, NCAA and other agencies under Decentralisation.