Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
497. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will list the current vacant properties in the OPW’s portfolio; their associated sizes and length of time vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41058/22]
View answerI am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that there are currently 70 vacant properties (buildings) in the portfolio. Over half (47) of these are former Garda stations and residences, most of which closed under the 2012/2013 policing plans of An Garda Síochána. OPW was under instruction not to dispose of these properties for much of the intervening time while a review of closed Garda stations was conducted.
In addition, there are 33 vacant sites.
The Office of Public Works (OPW), like other State bodies, is obliged to follow central Government policies and protocols on the disposal of surplus properties. The approach to managing vacant properties is firstly, to establish if the property is required for alternative State use, including the potential for it to be re-purposed either for Government Departments or for the wider public service.
As a matter of policy, no property or site is disposed of until there is certainty that there is no alternative State use for that property. The OPW, as a matter of course, consults with the Land Development Agency, Local Authorities, the Health Service Executive, the Department of Education and other State bodies in advance of any decision on the future of a property. In 2021, the OPW also engaged with the Department of Rural and Community Development to discuss the use of the former Garda stations. The OPW provided the Department of Rural and Community Development with a list of former Garda stations closed as part of the 2012 and 2013 Policing Plans. This list was provided in order for that Department to evaluate the properties for community use and/or regional hubs. To-date, the OPW has not been made aware by the Department that any of the properties have been deemed suitable for community use or regional hubs. In addition, a list of vacant properties and sites has been provided to the Departments managing the humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine.
Once it has been established that the surplus properties are not suitable for alternative State use, the OPW then considers if open market disposal is a viable option. Prior to disposing of a property, the OPW may re-evaluate the property’s potential and decide whether there may be a benefit to retaining a strategic property or site for future use or development. In this specific context, the OPW must take a long-term view on the potential future utility of such properties rather than seeking short-term commercial gain.
Finally, the OPW may consider community involvement, subject to a detailed submission that demonstrates that the community or voluntary group seeking to use the property has the means to insure, maintain and manage it in order to reduce costs to the Exchequer.
A full list of vacant properties and site by location (county) is available in Appendix I attached and includes the date they became vacant, where available. The square meterage for all of these properties and sites is not readily available.
In addition to the vacant properties listed, there are a limited number of sundry residential dwellings that are intrinsic to the estates of National Parks and Gardens managed by the OPW. In general, these are allocated to staff where there is a requirement for officials to be present on the ground. There are a number of these currently vacant due to the poor condition of the properties, though these would not be categorised in the same way as non-operational vacant properties that may be considered for other State use or for disposal. The OPW is progressing a programme of refurbishment of these properties, subject to the availability of funding.
Leased Properties
There are no vacant leased properties.
