John Bruton
Question:100 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance his plans for the disposal of State-owned assets over the next five years. [18199/04]
View answerThursday, 17 June 2004
Questions (100)
Written answers
The examination of the State property portfolio by the Commissioners of Public Works with a view to identifying vacant, under-utilised, under-developed or surplus property is continuing. In all cases it is very important to have perfection of title. This may involve long, tedious investigation of burdens, covenants, ground rent etc., and in many cases involves the registration of property. The work involved in the perfection of title is outside the control of the Office of Public Works and is dependent on available resources in the Chief State Solicitor's office or the Land Registry.
To date the process has produced a number of properties deemed suitable for disposal in the Dublin area, including Lad Lane and Lord Edward Street, which were disposed of recently. The former Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform head office at 72-76, St. Stephen's Green is currently on the market with tenders due on 9 July 2004. Some smaller properties throughout the country, including Church Street, Dungarvan, County Waterford and the former customs post site, Blacklion, County Cavan, were also disposed of recently.
A number of sites have also been identified for redevelopment and planning permission is in the process of being obtained for the West Gate redevelopment at St. John's Road, Dublin 8. In addition two sites have been offered to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government for use for affordable housing, including a former Department of Defence property on Infirmary Road, Dublin 7, and the former central engineering workshop, Inchicore, Dublin 8.
As the decentralisation programme progresses over the coming years it is envisaged that a number of other properties will also become surplus to requirements and the final decisions on disposal or redevelopment will follow the detailed assessment of each of the properties in question.