State Properties Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018

Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Ceisteanna (313)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

313. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of State owned properties in each county, including property owned by local authorities; the acreage of land owned by the State in each county; the acreage of land owned by the State in each county that is suitable for residential construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16620/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

As part of the Public Service Reform Plan, one of the actions under the Government's Property Asset Management Delivery Plan was the creation of an Intra-State Property Register. The Office of Public Works hosts this Register, which is a work-in-progress. The Register contains basic details of properties held by 94 public bodies. While the Office of Public Works hosts the Register, the properties and the data relating to them are the responsibility of the organisation that holds the property. The main use of the Register is to facilitate intra-state transfer of properties which are surplus to one State organisation but which are required by another. Intra-State transfers of such property assets makes for a more efficient use of the State’s property portfolio.

The population of the Register is ongoing by State bodies, and it includes a range of property types with varying levels of completeness. Each State body is responsible for the data they provide and for responding to requests for information on the property, they hold. In relation to the properties held by the Commissioners of Public Works, I refer you to the recent PQ 55217/17 answered on 16th January 2018.

Similarly, with regard to the local authority residential land bank, its active management is part of a range of complementary actions being progressed under the Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, designed to accelerate and increase housing output.  In that regard, I refer to the reply to the identical Question asked of the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government on today's Order Paper.