Government offices in Northern Ireland were practically empty during the final few months of 2022, a TaxPayers' Alliance investigation revealed. Of the three departments that provided data, the average occupancy rate was 25 per cent or below, with the lowest being the Department for Agriculture, which had an occupancy rate of just 15.7 per cent.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, which published the findings, our investigations campaign manager Elliot Keck said:
“Taxpayers will wonder why they are underwriting expensive office space that is sitting empty.
"These are assets that could be sold off, bringing in precious funds.
“If civil servants are going to remain working from home in such numbers, then ministers should impose a use it or lose it policy."