Medical Council expenditure on HQ renovation rises to €3.3m

The final cost to the Medical Council for the renovation of its rented headquarters is over €3.3 million, a spokesperson has informed the Medical Independent (MI). This figure includes furniture requirements.

The renovations at Kingram House in Dublin have been completed and staff returned to the building in April. A hybrid working model is in place.

“The final figure for the renovation of Kingram House and the purchase of replacement and new furniture (including desks, chairs, meeting room furniture, etc) is €3,303,395,” said the Council’s spokesperson.

“Additional furniture and fit-out works were needed to meet accessibility needs in line with requirements. As before, the majority of the costs continued to relate to mechanical, electrical, furniture, and fit-out requirements to ensure the building is compliant with building, fire, and health and safety legislation requirements, and to maximise building use with [the] increase in staffing numbers. The Council is not renting additional office space.”

In January, the Council advised MI that the approximate cost for the renovation project was €2.6 million. According to the spokesperson, the Council is required to maintain the building under the terms of its existing long-term lease on the premises. The refurbishments were necessary to ensure the building was compliant with health and safety legislation.

The spokesperson stated that all options were considered in advance of the renovation works. 

Kingram House was vacated when the refurbishment process began during 2021 and the Council rented alternative office space in Dublin.

The Medical Council is party to a 20-year lease at Kingram House that will expire on 31 December 2032.

The tenancy terms were previously subject to litigation and the court’s judgement was in favour of Kingram House’s owner Tanat Ltd. The Council appealed this decision and a confidential settlement was reached in 2015.

According to the Council’s 2021 annual report, operating lease payments recognised as an expense amounted to €827,500 (2020: €827,500). The report also listed further payments totalling over €180,000 for additional office space.