Departmental Properties

Tuesday, 16 January 2018

Questions (1921)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1921. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the vacant properties and land not in use, owned, rented or leased by her Department or by bodies and agencies under the aegis of her Department by square footage for buildings and acres for land, in tabular form; the address and location of these properties; and the last date of occupancy or use of these properties. [55208/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

As previously advised to the House, the management properties occupied by staff of my Department and the bodies under its aegis is primarily a matter for the Office of Public Works. On occasion my Department may also be required to lease additional property for specific purposes. I am advised that any such properties are fully occupied at present.

The Deputy will also be aware that the ownership 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 is also vested in my Department for use in connection with its statutory remit.

Two of the bodies under the aegis of Department, Údarás na Gaeltachta, and Waterways Ireland also own and manage properties in connection with their functions.

Údarás na Gaeltachta is 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 directly from Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Waterways Ireland manages and maintains land and property along the Barrow Navigation, the Grand Canal, the Royal Canal, the Shannon-Erne Waterway and the Shannon Navigation in Ireland and the Erne System the Lower Bann in the north of Ireland.

Land and property owned by Waterways Ireland is associated with the operation of the inland waterways network and the maintenance of the amenity value of the waterways. The land consists primarily of the canal corridor, adjoining towpaths and banks and areas of bogland.

Waterways Ireland owns the following properties which are currently vacant but in various states of repair. Waterways Ireland has an active programme for redeveloping the canal networks built heritage into modern day uses. In the past year 3 navigation properties have been redeveloped for community, recreation and commercial activity alongside the development of the canals as long distance recreational corridors.

Property Name	Address	Condition	Square footage	Last Date of Occupation/Use
11th Lockhouse (Omer)	Dublin, Co. Dublin	Derelict	Not available	Not available
13th lockhouse	Blakestown, Co. Kildare	Poor	Not available	December 2010
15th Lockhouse	Sallins, Co. Kildare	Derelict	Not available	Not available
18th Lockhouse	Prosperous, Co. Kildare	Derelict	Not available	Not available
20th Lockhouse	Ballyteague, Co. Kildare	Undergoing refurbishment	Not available	July 2010
22nd Lockhouse	Glenaree, Co. Kildare	Poor	Not available	October 1995
27th Lockhouse	Athy, Co. Kildare	Fair	Not available	October 2010
32nd Lockhouse	Glyn, Ferbane, Co. Offaly	Derelict	Not available	Not available
Albert Lock Lockhouse	Drumsna, Co. Leitrim	Fair	Not available	March 2017
Clondara Lockhouse	Cloondara, Co. Longford	Derelict	Not available	Not available
Foygh Lockhouse	Ballymahon, Co. Longford	Derelict	Not available	Not available
Lockhouse	Upper Tinnahinch, Co. Carlow	Fair	Not available	January 2014
Lockhouse	Clashganny, Co. Carlow	Derelict	Not available	Not available
Lockhouse	Ballygowan, Co. Carlow	Derelict	Not available	Not available
Lockhouse	Fenniscourt, Co. Carlow	Derelict	Not available	Not available
Lockhouse	Slyguff, Co. Carlow	Derelict	Not available	Not available
Lough Owel Sluice House	Cullion, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath	Under refurbishment	Not available	Not available
Portumna Lockhouse	Hayes Island, Portumna, Co. Galway	Fair	Not available	December 2011
Victoria Lockhouse	Clonahenoge, Co. Offaly	Fair	Not available	August 2009
Young's Store	Tullamore, Co. Offaly	Derelict	Not available	Not available