Office of Public Works

Tuesday, 17 November 2020

Questions (304)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

304. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the properties which are vacant and are either owned or being rented by the Office of Public Works by county; the amount of rent paid to date on those vacant rented properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36777/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The Office of Public Works (OPW) manages over 2,500 properties on behalf of the State. These include office accommodation, heritage properties, visitor centres, Garda stations, warehouses and others. As would be normal for a portfolio of that size, there are a small number of non-operational or vacant properties and sites around the country.

At present, there are just over 80 buildings vacant. Over half of these are former Garda stations that were closed under the 2012/2013 policing plans of An Garda Síochána. In late 2017, a review of the closed Garda stations identified six for re-opening. The OPW was requested by An Garda Síochána in January 2018 not to dispose of or transfer any further closed Garda stations in State ownership until a further review overseen by the Policing Authority was concluded. This review was carried out by the Garda Inspectorate and was published in December 2018. The OPW engaged with An Garda Síochána on the outcome of the review in advance of proceeding with further disposals or consideration of alternative use.

Of the existing non-operational or vacant properties (buildings) listed below that have not been reassigned, a number are in the process of being transferred to local authorities, being considered/prepared for disposal, are under consideration for community use or are being retained for alternative State use.

As a matter of policy, no property is disposed of until there is absolute certainty that there is no alternative State use for it. Alternative State use, in accordance with the OPW disposal policy, has been explored for each of those properties identified as being prepared for disposal.

The OPW’s policy on disposal of surplus State property is as follows:

1. Identify if the property is required/suitable for alternative State use by both Government departments and the wider public sector

2. If there is no other State use identified for a property, the OPW will then consider disposing of the property on the open market if and when conditions prevail, in order to generate revenue for the Exchequer or

3. If no State requirement is identified, or if a decision is taken not to dispose of a particular property, the OPW may consider community involvement (subject to detailed written submission, which would indicate that the community/voluntary group has the means to insure, maintain and manage the property and that there are no ongoing costs for the Exchequer.

Leased Property

There is one vacant leased property, which is the former Vehicle Registration Office in Carlow. The rent is €60,957.50 per annum and €45,725.64 has been spent to date in 2020. As the lease expires in June 2021 it would not be feasible to put a new occupant in place..

List of vacant Properties (Buildings) not assigned – November 2020

County	Location	Property Type	Current status
County	Location	Property Type	Current status
Cavan	Redhills	Former Garda station	Alternative State use being examined.
Cavan	Stradone	Former Garda station	Being prepared for disposal
Clare	Broadford	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Clare	Doonbeg	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Clare	Inagh	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Clare	Lahinch	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Clare	Quin	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Cork	Adrigole	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Cork	Ballyfeard	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Cork	Ballygurteen	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Cork	Clonakilty	Former Agricultural Offices	Alternative State use being examined.
Cork	Crosshaven (cottage No. 4)	Former Coastguard Cottage	Intra State Transfer to Cork Co. Co.
Cork	Crosshaven (cottage No. 5)	Former Coastguard Cottage	Intra State Transfer to Cork Co. Co.
Cork	Crosshaven (cottage No. 7)	Former Coastguard Cottage	Intra State Transfer to Cork Co. Co.
Cork	Crosshaven (cottage No. 8)	Former Coastguard Cottage	Intra State Transfer to Cork Co. Co.
Cork	Crosshaven (cottage No. 9)	Former Coastguard Cottage	Intra State Transfer to Cork Co. Co.
Cork	Crosshaven (cottage No. 10)	Former Coastguard Cottage	Intra State Transfer to Cork Co. Co.
Cork	Crosshaven (cottage No. 11)	Former Coastguard Cottage	Intra State Transfer to Cork Co. Co.
Cork	Goleen	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Cork	Knocknagree	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Cork	Rathduff	Former Garda station	Alternative State use being examined.
Donegal	2 The Mall, Ballyshannon	Residence	Being prepared for disposal.
Donegal	Bunbeg	Former Garda station	Being prepared for disposal
Donegal	Buncrana	Former Garda station	Being prepared for disposal
Donegal	Castlefin	Residence	Alternative State use being examined.
Donegal	Malin	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Donegal	Na Brocacha/ Cloghan	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Dublin	10-11 Castle Street	Building	Retained for strategic purposes.
Dublin	44 O'Connell Street	Building	Retained for strategic purposes.
Dublin	45 O'Connell street	Building	Retained for strategic purposes.
Dublin	Dalkey	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Dublin	Halston Street. (Former Debtors' Prison).	Building	Alternative State use being examined.
Dublin	Hawkins House	Building	Planning permission in place for redevelopment.
Dublin	Kill O'The Grange	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Galway	Ballymoe	Former Garda station	Under consideration by community group
Galway	Kiltullagh	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Galway	Leenane	Former Garda station	Sale Agreed
Galway	Maam	Former Garda station	Sale Agreed
Galway	Portumna	Former DSP Office	Sale Agreed
Kerry	Ballylongford	Residence	Being prepared for disposal
Kerry	Brosna	Former Garda Station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Kerry	Kilgarvan	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Kerry	Moyvane	Former Garda Station	Under consideration for Community use.
Kilkenny	Casltecomer	Former Garda Station	Intra State transfer to Kilkenny Co. Co.
Leitrim	Dromahair	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Leitrim	Drumkeeran	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Leitrim	Glenfarne	Former Garda station	Alternative State use being examined.
Leitrim	Keshcarrigan	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Limerick	Annacotty	Building (warehouse)	Being considered for disposal
Limerick	Castletown Conyers	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Limerick	Cecil Street	Building	Intra State transfer to Limerick Co. Co.
Limerick	Galbally	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Limerick	Kilfinane	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Limerick	Mayorstone Park	Former Garda Station	Being prepared for disposal
Limerick	Shanagolden	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Longford	Ardagh	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Longford	Ballinalee	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Louth	Drogheda 62/63 West Street	Building	Intra State Transfer to Louth Co. Co.
Louth	Dundalk	Former Employment Exchange	Intra State Transfer to Louth Co. Co.
Mayo	Ballina	Former Garda station	Intra State Transfer to Mayo Co. Co.
Mayo	Ballyglass	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Mayo	Blacksod	Former Garda station	Under consideration by Community Group
Mayo	Hollymount	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Meath	Navan (Kells Road)	Govt. buildings	Intra State transfer to Meath Co. Co.
Monaghan	Clontibret	Former Garda station	Being prepared for disposal.
Monaghan	Clontibret	Residence	Being prepared for disposal.
Monaghan	Corrinshigagh	Former Garda station	Alternative State use being examined.
Monaghan	Newbliss	Former Garda station	Alternative State use being examined.
Monaghan	Smithborough	Former Garda station	Alternative State use being examined.
Offaly	Birr	Former Met Station	Being prepared for disposal.
Roscommon	Ballintubber	Former Garda Station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Roscommon	Ballyforan	Former Garda Station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Roscommon	Knockcroghery	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Roscommon	Tarmonbarry	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Sligo	Ballymote	Former Garda station	Being prepared for disposal.
Tipperary	Dromard House	Residence	Acquired for An Garda Síochána who are considering future use.
Waterford	Ardmore	Building	Being prepared for disposal.
Waterford	Ballyduff	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations
Waterford	Customs House (Merchant’s Quay)	Building	Alternative State use being examined.
Wexford	Roche's Road	Former Garda station	Being prepared for disposal.
Wicklow	Ashford	Former Garda station	Being prepared for disposal
Wicklow	Hollywood	Former Garda station	OPW disposal policy following reviews of closed Garda stations