Before the Finance Committee on Monday the issue of the allocation of tens of millions for the purchase of buildings intended to house ministries and state services was raised, with Parliament crossing the amounts, following a recommendation from the Audit Service.
It is recalled that the Ministry of Finance requested the release of €25 million for the purchase of the Metropolitan building in the centre of Nicosia for the housing needs of the administration of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance and the Social Insurance Services. Another €8 million was requested for the purchase of the Nicosia City Central (NCC) building.
In statements on the sidelines of the Committee meeting, the representative of the Audit Service, Marios Petrides, expressed the EY's satisfaction with the Parliament's decision to follow its recommendations and cross the funds related to building rentals and purchases. "We must say that in the five working days of 2021, this committee rushed to agree terms, bypassing parliamentary scrutiny procedures," Petrides said.
Referring to the calculation of the amounts, which also led to the EY recommendations, Petrides explained that if the estimate for the Land Registry building, which with an area of 8,000 square meters cost €15 million, was followed, then the building for which the budget of €25 million was requested, with 6,5000 sq m should have cost €12 million. "The Public Works estimate was at €12.6 million and we are unable to understand the estimate because an estimated value of €20 million was given and a final agreement for €21 million," he said.
In response to a question, he said that as long as the Republic of Cyprus has state land that can be used to erect buildings using modern methods and at advantageous prices for the taxpayer, then this should be the main option. He concluded that the option of renting should only be for exceptional circumstances, while in even more exceptional and urgent needs other alternatives can be discussed.
In conclusion, he recalled that EY's position is that all the elements that led to the approval of the purchase of the buildings should be presented in full transparency before the Parliament, so that with the exercise of parliamentary control it can proceed to the appropriate decisions.
Source: CNA
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