While eight of the 16 government departments are due to move under the government's decentralisation plans over the next three years, Health is not one of them. Yet Tánaiste Mary Harney's department will have made two costly moves and occupied three different buildings in Dublin in that time.

The reason for the department's hasty move - from Hawkins House in Dublin's city centre to the new Chapel House building opposite Stringfellows lap dancing club in the north inner city - is that the government wants to sell Hawkins House sooner rather than later.

Though the Office of Public Works, which looks after all government departments' accommodation requirements, said nothing has been decided on the future of Hawkins House, it is understood the government is keen to realise the cash from a sale now to help fund its �?�1bn property decentralisation programme before the general election next year.

But the 700 staff currently working in Hawkins House, which has been voted Dublin's ugliest building, are not as keen on the planned move to the north inner city. Senior civil servants in particular are concerned that the new open-plan offices could mean that sensitive files would be left on desks for all to see.

Though Hawkins House is in need of refurbishment, questions have also been asked as to why the department wants to make the costly move from Hawkins House now, especially when the cost will have to be borne all over again in three years.

Initially, the OPW planned to refurbish Hawkins House. But last year it was decided that Health would instead move into the Department of Education's recently refurbished offices at Marlborough Street after education decentralises to Mullingar in 2009.

But it was understood Health would remain in Hawkins House until education moved out.

But last year the OPW, which is already overstretched in its efforts to procure almost 40 office buildings around the country, was surprised when Department of Health sought ?interim accommodation' before its move to Marlborough Street.

The OPW proposed the five-storey Chapel House at Parnell Street which, pending acceptance by health and ratification by finance, will be leased for around �?�3m a year. But it also has to fit out the new offices and buy car parking spaces at around �?�2,500 each, which will push the cost of the temporary move to around �?�10m.