Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 February 2024
96. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the general policy of his Department if unused Army land or property is sought for school building, car parking or playground purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9054/24]
View answerUnder General Finance Sanction S.55/3/55, the Department of Defence can dispose of property directly to Local Authorities for the purposes of house building, road widening or the provision of public amenities. There is no provision that allows the Department to liaise with Community Groups directly regarding the sale of a property. Outside of this General Sanction, the Department is obliged to dispose of surplus property by way of public auction.
The Deputy may wish to note that there is a long standing policy of my Department and the Defence Forces allowing third party access to Defence Forces facilities and properties, in order to support local communities and to raise the profile of the Defence Forces amongst the general public. This policy extends to a wide number of groups and activities, including GAA clubs, soccer clubs and numerous community groups throughout the country.
