Committee Reports::Report No. 06 - Aspects of EC Environment Policy::05 December, 1990::Appendix


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Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 1990 > Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the European Communities (6th Committee) > Report No. 06 - Aspects of EC Environment Policy

ANNEX IV

OUTLINE OF CONSIDERATIONS FAVOURING LOCATION IN DUBLIN OF THE EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

INFRASTRUCTURE

1.The buildings comprising the Custom House Docks Development are designed to the highest standards, to meet the most exacting office requirements, with particular emphasis on today’s computer and telecommunication’s intensive office environment and ensuring the necessary flexibility to tailor individual units to the particular needs of potential occupiers.

2.The on-site telecommunications infrastructure of the Custom House Docks Development will provide a full range of national and international services, plus technical support functions.

3.It is estimated that the Agency would require in the region of 2,700 - 3,000 sq. metres of office space, overall.

4.Of the office accommodation which is currently available for leasing in the Development, approximately 14,000 m² will be ready for occupation from January 1991. The Agency’s space requirements can therefore be fully accommodated within the development, with ample scope for expansion. There would be total flexibility with regard to office layout, facilities etc. The state of the art air conditioning which is provided as standard will meet all but the most specialised requirements for computer equipment, though these can be catered for. Accommodation in Dublin will be available at very competitive rent rates.

5.Because of the high quality of the proposed office location, annual maintenance service charges for occupants of the Development would be higher than would normally be the case in Dublin, at approximately IR£40/m², or an annual total cost of approximately IR£115,000 (c.150,000 ECU).

6.There would be a full remission of local taxes in respect of office accommodation in the Development, for a period of ten years from the beginning of occupation.

Work Environment

7.Personal accommodation is readily available throughout the Dublin area, and at reasonable cost by international standards. There is a balanced distribution of new and second hand family homes and apartments, both according to size and by location, across the city and suburbs. Following are details of typical new housing developments, in attractive residential areas close to the city centre:

Size (m²)	Bedrooms	Purchase Price (IR£)
165	4	140,000
190	5	160,000
80	2	75/85,000
95	3	70,000
70	2	60,000

Prices would be lower for similar property in suburban areas, located up to 30 minutes travelling time from the city centre. It is proposed to have 200 residential apartments within the overall Custom House Development.

8.Dublin is a vibrant capital city, of compact size, in an attractive geographical and environmental setting, and with a full range of social, medical, educational and cultural facilities on a par with those of other major European cities.

Town Infrastructure

9.Dublin has a range of hotel and conference facilities sufficient to cater for the full spectrum of possible national or international activities, ranging from informal seminars to working groups and international conferences. There are about 2,100 5-star hotel rooms within 10 minutes of the Customs House Development, which will itself contain an international hotel.

Access and Technical Support

10.The Custom House Docks in only twenty minutes by road from Dublin’s international airport, and within minutes of a range of top quality hotels. Maximum flight times to major European cities are:

	Amsterdam	90 mins
	Brussels	90 mins
	Copenhagen	130 mins
	Dusseldorf	120 mins
	Frankfurt	120 mins
	London	50 mins
	Madrid	135 mins
	Munich	135 mins
	Paris	90 mins
	Rome	190 mins
	Zurich	135 mins.

There are three Universities in Dublin, two of which in particular - Trinity College and the National University College - are actively involved in a wide range of atmospheric and environmental research, both in the domestic and international contexts. The study of atmospheric and environmental sciences is a well established, strong and internationally recognised area of Irish scientific endeavour. These colleges and other academic institutions would welcome the opportunity to co-operate directly with the Agency and their close physical proximity would facilitate useful cross fertilisation of ideas and concepts.