A plan by FÁS to purchase a site at Birr, Co Offaly, for its new decentralised headquarters has been delayed because of concerns over the price.
The State training and jobs agency has asked the Office of Public Works for advice on the price being quoted, which has almost doubled to €275,000 an acre since an initial evaluation was received. The 5.9 acre site would cost more than €1.6 million in total, which would be funded by the Exchequer.
Board members had expressed concern at the price of the site, given that the estate agents acting for FÁS, Hamilton Osborne King (HOK), had initially provided a valuation of €140,000 an acre.
A FÁS spokesman said HOK had advised the agency that the initial estimate was based on a number of factors, including the fact that the site did not have planning permission for offices, was to be surrounded by social and affordable housing, was adjacent to a proposed recycling plant and was located close to a sand quarry.