Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Departmental Properties.

Dermot Ahern

Question:

95 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the buildings and sites in County Louth under the ownership of his Department; the location of these sites; if such sites are currently in use by his Department; if not, the use which will be made of such sites; when it is envisaged to utilise these sites or buildings; the proposals, if any, there are to dispose of these sites or buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15456/96]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Coveney)

There are no buildings or sites in County Louth owned by the Department of Finance but a number of properties are vested in the Minister for Finance. In addition, there are a number of other State-owned properties in County Louth, the titles of which are vested in the Commissioners of Public Works and these have also been included in the reply. The properties fall into three basic categories: (i) civil service office accommodation; (ii) Garda stations; and (iii) miscellaneous properties including Garda residences, sites acquired for Garda stations, Coastguard stations and a Rural Automatic Exchange (RAX).

The relevant details in respect of each property are set out in the following schedule. Except where indicated in the schedule, there are no other proposals at present to dispose of any of the State-owned sites or buildings in County Louth. The general policy in relation to State-owned property which has been identified as surplus to State requirements is to offer it for sale by public competition on the open market with a view to obtaining the best price available. Any departure from public competitive sale on the open market can only be with the specific sanction of the Minister for Finance on the basis of exceptional and compelling circumstances.

Schedule referred to State-Owned Properties in County Louth.

1. Civil Service Office Accommodation.

Property	Title Holder	Occupying Department
Drogheda Custom House Quay	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)	Agriculture, Food and Forestry; Revenue Commissioners
Carrickaron Custom Post (including 30 acre site)	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)	Revenue Commissioners
Dundalk Customs and Excise	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)	Revenue Commissioners
Dundalk Custom House	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)	Revenue Commissioners
Drogheda Custom House	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)	Social Welfare
Dundalk Barrack Street Employment Exchange	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)	Social Welfare
Ferry Hill Customs Post	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)	Unallocated

Notes:

(a) Owing to the establishment of the European Single Market post-1992 the 30 acre site adjoining the Custom Post at Carrickaron which was originally acquired for development and extension of the Customs facilities is now surplus to requirements and will be disposed of.

(b) The Dundalk Customs and Excise property on the Newry Road comprised 3.5 acres. The buildings on it accommodate 80 staff of the Revenue Commissioners. This site has been considered as a possible location for the proposed civil service Decentralised Offices in Dundalk. However, in the event of a more suitable site being identified, Newry Road site will be disposed of.

(c) The Ferry Hill Custom Post is now vacant and will be disposed of if surplus to requirements.

2. Garda Stations

Station	Title Holder
Ardee	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)
Blackrock	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)
Carlingford	Minister for Finance
Castlebellingham	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)
Collon	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)
Drogheda	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)
Dromad	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)
Dundalk	Minister for Justice
Dunleer	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)
Hackballscross	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)
Louth	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)
Omeath	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)

Note:

All of these properties are in active use as Garda Stations.

3. Miscellaneous Properties

Property	Title Holder
Drogheda Garda Residence	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)
Clogherhead Garda Station site (1 acre)	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)
Drogheda Garda Station site (.96 acre)	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)
Greenore Coastguard Station	Minister for Finance
Soldier's Point Coastguard Station	Minister for Finance
Castlebellingham RAX	Commissioners of Public Works (CPW)

Notes:

In the case of the sites which have been acquired for new Garda Stations at Clogherhead and Drogheda, the question of when the sites will be so utilised is a matter for the Department of Justice-Garda Authorities in the context of their priorities under the Garda Building Programme.