Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 February 2019
7. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the lands and properties owned by his Department deemed suitable and made available for social and affordable housing in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5758/19]
View answerThe Commissioners of Public Works, on behalf of the State, manage a large and diverse property portfolio, which ranges from office accommodation to heritage properties, visitor centres, Garda stations, among others. As is typical of such large portfolios, there will always be a number of properties, at any given time, that are vacant.
The majority of the properties currently vacant are those Garda stations closed under the 2012/2013 policing plans of An Garda Síochána. The remainder consists of properties such as customs posts, former coastguard stations and sundry other properties located throughout the country.
The provision of social/affordable housing is a function of the Local Authorities and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
However, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has actively engaged with that Department in providing information on any non-operational, vacant properties we own. That Department then assesses those properties in terms of what might be suitable for residential use.
The Land Development Agency (LDA) have been given access to information on all properties held by the CPW. Given the LDA's remit to increase the supply of housing, including the re-purposing of State land for housing where appropriate, it is expected that the LDA will express interest in some lands held by the CPW. The OPW will engage constructively with any requests from the LDA.
As a matter of course, the OPW provides information on its non-operational properties to the relevant authorities/housing agencies, for assessment.
In the past two years, this process has identified a number of properties as being feasible for adaption for residential use. These include:
|
Property |
Transferred To |
Use |
|
8 residential units in Dublin City Centre |
Dublin City Council |
Peter McVerry Trust |
|
Property at Clonard Road, Crumlin, Dublin |
Dublin City Council (under Licence) |
Family Hub |
A further 15 properties are being considered by various local authorities in terms of their potential for investment and adaptation for social housing. These include:
|
Property |
Under Consideration By |
Use |
|
7 properties and 1 site, Crosshaven, Cork |
Cork County Council |
Social Housing |
|
5 properties, Templemore, Tipperary |
Tipperary County Council |
Social Housing |
|
3 properties, Limerick City |
Limerick City & County Council |
Social Housing |
