New figures from estate agent Lisney show that the amount of office space rented by the State in Dublin alone increased fourfold during 2006.
The public sector accounted for more than 9,300 square metres of space in 2005, but that jumped to more than 38,000 square metres last year. Lisney says the public sector now accounts for 16.4% of total office take-up in the Dublin region, up from 5% in 2005.
Lisney economist John McCartney said this percentage was now almost back to the levels of 2003, the year in which then Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy announced the Government's decentralisation programme.
But he added that, as public sector job numbers had grown by 16,300 since December 2003, the higher Dublin office figure was not necessarily inconsistent with decentralisation.
