Offices for decentralised staff set to cost €1.5bn

THE cost of providing 53 new office buildings for the decentralisation plan could amount to more than €1.5 billion over 25 years.

The price tag comes as the latest figures reveal a better-than-expected relocation uptake from civil servants and a worryingly low level of interest among State agency workers.

Although the construction of offices to house 10,300 decentralised staff will be funded by the private sector, the Government is planning to lease the properties back at an estimated cost of €50m to €60m annually.