Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 April 2016
875. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of vacant State properties and land, including car parks not in use, owned by her Department or by bodies and agencies under the aegis of her Department by square footage, by location, by local authority, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6908/16]
View answerThe Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is the owner of significant lands across the country, including national parks, national monuments sites, nature reserves and other property acquired for purposes of heritage protection and conservation. The management of office properties occupied by staff of my Department is a matter for the Office of Public Works. The management of properties owned by bodies under the aegis of my Department are part of the day-to-day operational responsibilities of the bodies concerned.
Two of these bodies, Waterways Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta, own and manage properties in connection with their functions. Waterways Ireland is the owner of a number of properties associated with the operation of the inland waterways network and the maintenance of the amenity value of these waterways. Údarás na Gaeltachta is also the owner of a significant portfolio of commercial properties in Gaeltacht areas arising from its development role. Details of currently available properties in each of the Gaeltacht counties are available on the Údarás website at www.udaras.ie.
