Anglo’s €100k office refit ‘will save money’

ANGLO IRISH BANK yesterday confirmed its offices in Dublin did undergo a fit-out, reportedly costing €100,000, but claimed the move was actually saving money in the long run.

The bank had come under fire over the cost at a time when the bill to the taxpayer for the bank is likely to reach almost €30 billion.

There was speculation that the renovation of the office on St Stephen’s Green was being carried out by the firm Management and Construction Ltd.

In a statement on its website the company said: “We can announce that we are again working with a well-known financial institution on a refit of one of their office locations.

“The fit out is based in an occupied floor of their existing premises with all works being undertaken in phases to accommodate client usage requirements. Overall, 6,000 sq ft of office space is being reconstituted to create a fresh and modern working environment for the bank’s employees.”

Yesterday, a spokesman for the company said it was maintaining its stance that it could neither confirm nor deny that the bank in question was Anglo.

But a spokesperson for Anglo said a “modest and functional” fit-out was done in a bid to minimise costs while staff were moved into different buildings.

“The new management of the bank have prioritised the reduction in costs as an integral part of the restructuring of the bank,” the spokesperson said.

“One element of cost management has been a rationalisation in the number of buildings being used by the bank. The management team transferred to Burlington House where the bank has a long term lease and freed up space in St Stephen’s Green into which other staff have transferred.”