On foot of proposals made by my Department and the Department of Finance, the Government decided last year to establish a National Public Property Register, under the aegis of the Department of Finance, which will contain information on lands and buildings in the ownership of Government Departments and State agencies, including non-commercial State bodies, health boards, local authorities and certain education bodies. Work on compiling the register is currently under way in the Office of Public Works. Once the register is completed it will enable the Government to determine whether there are lands or buildings in the ownership of the State, which can be used for housing, education, recreation or other functions for which the State has responsibility and to decide on the most appropriate use for such lands. Agreement has already been reached separately with the Department of Defence for prior consultations with the relevant local authorities when the sale of surplus Defence lands is being contemplated and these arrangements are working satisfactorily.