Wasting state money - Rent deal is questionable

ANYONE who cares about how Government spends money will wonder why a 24% rent increase for Galway offices used by the state was agreed this year.

The aptly-named Ballybrit Partnership – former AIB manager John Hughes and former Anglo director John Browne – will get over €2m a year until 2023.

These arrangements must be thoroughly examined in a public forum, possibly by the Dáil Public Accounts Committee, because they do not represent anything like value for money in today’s market. The rent due up to 2023 would buy comparable buildings in Galway.

This deal stinks. It, and any others like it, must be revisited with a view to spectacular downward revisions of rents. There must be consequences too for officials who agreed them if they are not shown to be the best possible deal. In the best of times this kind of deal would be infuriating, today it is utterly unacceptable.