OPW pays more than €31m in office rent this year as calls grow for value-for-money review

Detailed lease figures reveal millions spent on rented government offices, with several buildings costing taxpayers more than €1m annually

In Cork, Abbeycourt House on George's Quay has cost €325,000 so far this year. Picture: Larry Cummins

The OPW has paid out more than €31m in rent for properties across the country so far this year, leading to calls for a value-for-money review of leasing accommodation.

In Dublin, eight buildings have cost more than €1m each in rent so far this year, the most costly being Meisian Plaza, which houses the departments of health and children. The State has paid just over €4.4m so far this year for the offices under a 25-year lease secured in 2017.

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett, who received a detailed breakdown of leases, has called for a value-for-money analysis to be carried out, saying it may now be more cost-effective to buy or build office accommodation given the large amounts being paid in rent for some buildings.

Around 60% of office space managed by the OPW is State-owned, and the remaining 40% leased.

A total of 80 government departments and agencies are currently based in rented accommodation. This includes the Workplace Relations Commission, the Gambling Regulator, the Ombudsman for Children, the Irish Coastguard, Met Éireann and the Mental Health Commission.

A number of entities occupy multiple leased buildings across the country including Revenue, Social Protection, the Probation Service and the gardaí. Bishop's Square in Dublin city centre cost the State more than €3.29m in rent so far this year.

A previous report from the Comptroller and Auditor General revealed that €7.9m had been paid to the building’s landlord between May 2019 and May 2024 despite its intended tenant, the department of foreign affairs, not taking up occupancy “due to delays with fit-out works”.

In Cork, Abbeycourt House on George's Quay has cost €325,000 so far this year, a further €271,173 has been paid for leasing the Irish Life Building turned-government office on South Mall, while €194,471 in rent has been paid for the decentralised Hiqa office in Mahon.

A lease on the decentralised Department of Foreign Affairs office in Limerick has cost €450,000 to date. In Leitrim €450,000 in rent has been charged for the decentralised Social Welfare office, Carrick-on-Shannon and the Road Safety Authority headquarters in Ballina, Co Mayo, has cost €457,266.

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Meanwhile, in Galway €729,400 has been paid for offices occupied by Revenue.

The accommodation portfolio includes a range of differing types of office provision, from brand new grade A office accommodation to prestige heritage buildings.

Among the higher rents paid out, are a building which houses the Public Appointments Service, situated in Dublin's Abbey Street which cost more than €1.4m so far this year. Close by on D'Olier Street €729,700 has been charged in rent in the first half of the year for offices used as a Public Service Card centre.

• Elaine Loughlin, political editor