Departmental Properties

Tuesday, 12 December 2023

Questions (278)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

278. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of vacant and derelict properties and sites that are owned by his Department; his plans to bring each of these properties and sites into use; where no plans are in place, the reasons why; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55051/23]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility on behalf of the State for managing and maintaining a substantial and complex estate of approximately 2,500 properties.

This extensive and diverse portfolio of State properties includes office accommodation for all Government Departments, the property estate for An Garda Síochána and numerous properties for many State Agencies. The portfolio also encompasses specialised spaces such as public offices, laboratories and cultural institutions, in addition to warehouses, heritage properties, visitor centres and sites.

In any major portfolio, there will always be a certain level of surplus vacant or non-operational properties. It is normal to have an amount of space vacant, or vacant properties, at any given time as the portfolio could not function without the flexibility that it provides. Not all vacant properties will be deemed surplus to the State’s requirements or suitable for disposal.

The OPW, like other State bodies, is obliged to follow central Government policies on the disposal of surplus properties including former Garda station properties. The arrangements involved are set out in the following Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) Circulars:

• Circular 11/2015: Protocols for the Transfer and Sharing of State Property Assets

• Circular 17/2016: Policy for Property Acquisition and for Disposal of Surplus Property

As a matter of policy, no property is disposed of until there is absolute certainty that there is no alternative State use for that property.

The OPW’s approach to managing vacant, surplus properties is firstly, to establish if the property is required for alternative State use, including the potential for it to be re-purposed for either Government Departments or the wider public service. A number of strategic properties are retained in anticipation of potential State use/development in line with service demands arising from Government policy changes to public service provision.

Secondly, if no State use is identified, the OPW considers if open market disposal is an option, depending on prevailing market conditions.

Thirdly, 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.

In line with the above policy, the OPW has provided a list of its surplus vacant properties, including former Garda station properties, to the Land Development Agency, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and the relevant Local Authorities so that they could assess them for suitability for social or humanitarian housing purposes or for other State use.

In addition, there are a limited number of sundry residential dwellings that are intrinsic to the estates of parks and gardens as part of the national historic properties managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW); and for that reason would not be appropriate for disposal. In general, these properties are allocated to staff in specific posts, such as Park Superintendents, Deer Keepers, etc. where there is a requirement for them to be present on the ground.

Attached at Appendix 1 is a list of surplus vacant properties (57) and sites (23).

1	Clare	Broadford	Garda Station	Being prepared for disposal - 2024.
2	Clare	Quin	Garda Station	Being prepared for disposal - 2024.
3	Cork	Ballyfeard	Garda Station	Being prepared for disposal - 2024. Title issues to be resolved prior to disposal.
4	Cork	Ballygurteen	Garda Station	Under consideration by Cork County Council.
5	Cork	Knocknagree	Garda Station	Being prepared for disposal - 2024.
6	Donegal	Malin	Garda Station	Intra State transfer to Donegal County Council.
7	Donegal	Na Brocacha / Cloghan	Garda Station	To be leased to Donegal County Council.
8	Dublin	Dalkey	Garda Station	Alternative State use being examined.
9	Dublin	Kill O The Grange	Garda Station	Intra State transfer to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
10	Galway	Ballymoe	Garda Station	Being prepared for disposal - 2024.
11	Galway	Kiltullagh	Garda Station	Sale agreed. Sold by auction.
12	Kerry	Brosna	Garda Station	Being prepared for disposal - 2024.
13	Limerick	Castletown Conyers	Garda Station	Being prepared for disposal - 2024. Title issues to be resolved prior to disposal.
14	Limerick	Galbally	Garda Station	Sale agreed. Intra State transfer to Limerick City and County Council.
15	Limerick	Kilfinane	Garda Station	Under consideration by Limerick City and County Council.
16	Limerick	Shanagolden	Garda Station	Sale agreed. Intra State transfer to Limerick City and County Council.
17	Longford	Ardagh	Garda Station	Sale Agreed. Sold by auction
18	Longford	Ballinalee	Garda Station	Being prepared for disposal - 2024. Title issues to be resolved prior to disposal.
19	Mayo	Bellacorrick	Garda Station	Sale agreed. Intra State transfer to Mayo County Council.
20	Mayo	Ballycastle	Garda Station	Being prepared for disposal - 2024.
21	Mayo	Glenisland	Garda Station	Being prepared for disposal - 2024.
22	Monaghan	Newbliss	Garda Station	Being prepared for disposal - 2024. Title issues to be resolved prior to disposal.
23	Roscommon	Ballyforan	Garda Station	Being prepared for disposal - 2024.
24	Roscommon	Knockcroghery	Garda Station	Alternative State use being examined - National Parks and Wildlife Service.
25	Wicklow	Hollywood	Garda Station	Being prepared for disposal - 2024. Title issues to be resolved prior to disposal.

Other Former Garda Stations (6)

1	Cork	92 Ballyhooly Road, Cork City	Garda Station	Sale Agreed.
2	Donegal	Bunbeg	Garda Station	Sale Agreed. Sold by auction.
3	Donegal	Buncrana	Garda Station	Intra State transfer to Donegal County Council.
4	Kilkenny	Castlecomer	Garda Station	Intra State transfer to Kilkenny County Council.
5	Limerick	Mayorstone Drive	Garda Station	Intra State transfer to Limerick City and County Council.
6	Sligo	Ballymote	Garda Station	Being prepared for disposal - 2024.

Former Garda Residences (4)

1	Cork	Kealkil	Residence	Being prepared for disposal by auction - 2024. Title issues to be resolved prior to disposal.
2	Kerry	Ballylongford	Residence	Being prepared for disposal - 2024.
3	Tipperary	11 Church Avenue, Templemore	Residence	Intra State transfer to Tipperary County Council.
4	Tipperary	12 Church Avenue, Templemore	Residence	Intra State transfer to Tipperary County Council.

Former Coastguard Site (1) and Properties (10)

1	Cork	Crosshaven Site	Site	Intra State transfer to Cork Co. Co for social housing scheme.
2	Cork	Crosshaven (cottage No. 4)	Cottage	Intra State transfer to Cork Co. Co for social housing scheme.
3	Cork	Crosshaven (cottage No. 5)	Cottage	Intra State transfer to Cork Co. Co for social housing scheme.
4	Cork	Crosshaven (cottage No. 7)	Cottage	Intra State transfer to Cork Co. Co for social housing scheme.
5	Cork	Crosshaven (cottage No. 8)	Cottage	Intra State transfer to Cork Co. Co for social housing scheme.
6	Cork	Crosshaven (cottage No. 9)	Cottage	Intra State transfer to Cork Co. Co for social housing scheme.
7	Cork	Crosshaven (cottage No. 10)	Cottage	Intra State transfer to Cork Co. Co for social housing scheme.
8	Cork	Crosshaven (cottage No. 11)	Cottage	Intra State transfer to Cork Co. Co for social housing scheme.
9	Cork	Crosshaven	Rocket House	Under consideration by Cork Co Co.
10	Donegal	Greencastle	Rocket House	Being prepared for disposal - 2024.
11	Kerry	Ballydavid	Rocket House	Being prepared for disposal - 2024.

Former Customs Sites (5) and Properties (2)

1	Cavan	Ballyconnell	Site	Being prepared for disposal.
2	Donegal	Ballyshannon	Site	Future State use being examined.
3	Donegal	Burnfoot	Station	Future State use being examined.
4	Louth	Carrickcarnan	Station	Future State use being examined.
5	Louth	Ferryhill	Site	Future State use being examined.
6	Monaghan	Castleblayney	Site	Being prepared for disposal 2024
7	Monaghan	Inishammon	Site	Being prepared for disposal 2024

Former Met Station Site (1) and Property (1)

1	Offaly	Birr	Met Station	Being prepared for disposal - 2024.
2	Westmeath	Mullingar	Met Station site	Title issues to be resolved before disposal can be planned.

			Decentralisation Sites (2)

1	Laois	Portlaoise	Decentralisation Site	Future State use being examined.
2	Waterford	Waterford	Decentralisation Site	Future State use being examined - car park (lease).

Miscellaneous Buildings (9)

1	Cork	Bannow House, Carrigrohane, T23AK58	Residence	To be leased to Cork City Council.
2	Cork	Old Blackrock Road	Former OPW Office	Alternative State use being examined.
3	Dublin	10-11 Castle Street	Building	Alternative State use being examined.
4	Dublin	Halston Street. (Former Debtors Prison).	Building	Alternative State use being examined.
5	Dublin	44 O'Connell Street	Building	Intra State transfer/disposal under consideration.
6	Dublin	45 O'Connell street	Building	Intra State transfer/disposal under consideration.
7	Dublin	CMH Dundrum	Building	Under consideration by the LDA.
8	Limerick	Cecil Street	Building	Under consideration by Limerick City and County Council.
9	Waterford	Customs House (Merchants Quay)	Building	Alternative State use being examined.

Miscellaneous Sites (14)

1	Donegal	Ballintra	Site	An Garda Síochána have requested that the site be retained until there is certainty over existing leased property. Planned disposal put on hold.
2	Donegal	Castlefin	Site	Future State use being examined.
3	Donegal	Raphoe	Site	Intra State transfer to Education and Training Board.
4	Dublin	Hawkins Street	Site	Planned for office development.
5	Galway	Athenry	Site	Intra State transfer to Galway County Council.
6	Galway	Mountbellew	Site	Alternative State use being examined. Large unused walled garden (1-acre) which An Garda Síochána do not want disposed.
7	Galway	Lands at Rosmuc (WTP)	Site	Sale agreed. Intra State transfer to Galway County Council
8	Kerry	Killarney	Muckross Road Site	Being prepared for disposal 2024.
9	Mayo	Ballyhaunis	Site	Being prepared for disposal 2024.
10	Monaghan	Scotstown	Site	Intra State transfer to Monaghan County Council.
11	Offaly	Daingean	Site at rear of Garda Station	Future State use being examined.
12	Sligo	DEASP Carpark	Caltragh site	Future State use being examined.
13	Westmeath	Lissywollen, Athlone	Site	State use being examined (D/Children).
14	Wexford	Ballygilane Little, Rosslare Harbour	Site	Under consideration by Wexford County Council.