€20 m 'squandered' in 'scandalous waste of money' in Portlaoise involving OPW and Government rails Laois representative

The Laois TD who chairs the Dáil's public spending watchdog has launched a scathing attack on “a scandalous waste of money and a classic example of stroke politics" caused by the decentralisation of Government departments to Portlaoise.

Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley is Cathaoirleach of the Public Accounts Committee. He was commenting on Government spending on nine properties for over 21 years in Portlaoise.

He said he has been flagging the issue since November 2011. He outlined the background and the cost.

“In the run-up to the 2003 budget and just in time for the 2004 local elections Fianna Fáils Charlie McCreevy announced decentralisation and promised jobs galore in Laois.

"Since then, the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Government have been renting properties including, apartments, and they have spent in the region of €1 million per year for the last 21 years. The Department of Agriculture alone has spent almost €550,000 in the past year. Approximately €20 million has been squandered under the watch of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

"Some of the properties were small apartments and in inappropriate areas like above a takeaway and behind a pub. Some did not have proper IT connectivity or proper toilet facilities for both male and female employees.

"The latest information I have received is that the OPW holds 12 leases in 9 buildings in Portlaoise for several Government departments.

"To make matters worse the Fianna Fail government purchased a site in 2007 on the Mountrath Road in Portlaoise for €1.03million which has never been used and is now covered in bushes and briars. I have raised this on several occasions with Government Ministers. The Government now need to find a use for this site or sell it. This asset was bought with public money and cannot continue to be left sitting idle. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: Laois Offaly TD Brian Stanley

"Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael need to explain first of all why they created this mess, and then why they presided over it for 20 years," he said.

Dep Stanley drew a comparison with recent controversies.

"The Leinster House Bike Shed and the security hut at the Department of Finance are the latest examples of excessive prices being paid. However, this has been happening under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael for decades.

"We are able to uncover this scandalous spending at the Public Accounts Committee, but it is up to the appropriate Government ministers to act now and stop all of these inexplicable examples of government incompetence with taxpayers’ money," he said.

The statement was issued in the wake of a new twist in the Department of Agriculture presence in Portlaoise as reported by the Leinster Express / Laois Live. In conjunction with the OPW, it has begun the process of concentrating its 500 Portlaoise-based staff into two buildings. ]

One of the buildings it is vacating has been rented since 2006. The Grattan Court Business Park be occupied by gardaí based at Portlaoise Garda Station who need to relocate temporarily to allow for the redevelopment of the Portlaoise Station which is also the Laois Offaly Division Garda HQ. Work on that has yet to commence.

The Grattan offices on Portlaoise's Dublin Road were developed during the Celtic Tiger. Architects involved said the project entailed the conservation and restoration of the near-derelict Old County Infirmary Building and the addition of two stand alone office pavilion buildings.

The Leinster Express reported in 2011 that the Grattan centre cost over €265k to rent annually after being leased in 2006. Its fit out for use by about 100 staff cost €100k when rented. An Eir building in Portlaoise cost €191k to rent annually after a lease was signed in 2005. It will continue to be used by Department of Agriculture staff alongside the existing State-owned building on the Abbeyleix Road.