Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 May 2023
50. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an update on the disposal of disused Garda stations in counties Sligo and Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22070/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works (CPW) that the following Garda Stations are surplus to requirements in counties Sligo and Leitrim:
|
County |
Property |
Current Status |
|
|
1. |
Sligo |
Former Garda Station Cliffoney |
Intra-State Transfer to Sligo County Council |
|
2. |
Sligo |
Former Garda Station Ballymote |
Being prepared for disposal |
|
3. |
Leitrim |
Former Garda Station Dromahair |
To be leased to Leitrim County Council |
|
4. |
Leitrim |
Former Garda Station Keshcarrigan |
To be leased to Leitrim County Council |
The Office of Public Works (OPW), like other State bodies, is obliged to follow central Government policies on the disposal of surplus properties. The arrangements involved are set out in the following Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) 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 or site is disposed of until there is absolute certainty that there is no alternative State use for that property.
The OPW policy with regard to non-operational (vacant) State property is to:
Identify if the property is required/suitable for alternative State use by either Government Departments or the wider public sector.
If there is no other State use identified for a property, the OPW will then consider disposing of the property on the open market if and when conditions prevail, in order to generate revenue for the Exchequer.
If no State requirement is identified or if a decision is taken not to dispose of a particular property, the OPW may consider community involvement (subject to a detailed written submission, which would indicate that the community/voluntary group has the means to insure, maintain and manage the property and that there are no ongoing costs for the Exchequer).
In line with the above policy, the former Garda station at Cliffoney is currently being prepared for transfer to Sligo County Council under the Protocols for the Transfer and Sharing of State Property Assets (DPER Circular 11/2015). As no alternative State use has been identified for the former Garda station at Ballymote, the property is being prepared for disposal on the open market.
The OPW is liaising with Leitrim County Council to progress the transfer of the former Garda station properties at Dromahair and Keshcarrigan by way of a Lease Agreement. The Chief State Solicitor’s Office (CSSO) is liaising with the Councils’ legal representatives to finalise matters and it is expected that the Lease Agreements will be executed in the coming weeks.
