Taoiseach's residence

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There is no official residence for the Taoiseach (prime minister of Ireland). In the 1970s, plans were made to turn the former Apostolic Nunciature, (formerly the Under Secretary's Lodge) into an official residence. However the plans fell through and the Georgian building was subsequently demolished.

In 2006 it was announced by the Office of Public Works that Steward's Lodge a house located on the Farmleigh estate has been renovated. It was speculated that the house would become the official private residence of the Taoiseach after the 2007 general election.^[1], and any official engagements will be carried out in the nearby Farmleigh or Government buildings.

There was political sensitivity at Government level about the project, with some concerned that it could be depicted as a lavish "perk" for the Taoiseach. In 2000, a spokeswoman for the then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern stated he had no interest in using it, and he remained resident in his private home off Griffith Avenue, Dublin. In 2008, it was reported that the new Taoiseach Brian Cowen may use it as his official residence.^[2]