I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department owns 20 properties that are currently unused or unoccupied – three commercial, 15 industrial and two residential properties.
These buildings are located at Fishery Harbour Centres, most of which would not be suitable for accommodation but are more suitable for use as commercial industrial units. The two residential properties have been offered to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to house Ukrainian refugees. However, they have not been occupied for some time and would need a considerable amount of work to make them fully habitable.
As regards the 12 State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.