Almost €45m spent on zombie sites

It has emerged that €44m was spent on 12 sites which are now lying idle because decentralisation plans have been put on hold.

A report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) said that six of the sites were also found to have been bought at prices above the benchmark set by consultants engaged by the Office of Public Works (OPW).

One site purchased in Birr, Co Offaly, by FAS was purchased for €1.7m, more than double the initial €700,000 valuation placed by its own property consultations,

The CAG said that it was unlikely that the OPW can affect early surrenders of the properties in advance of expiry or lease break dates.