Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I have said on a number of occasions at this committee, in the case of a lot of the buildings we have, there are huge title issues. They include old Garda stations that, once upon a time, were RIC stations that might not have title. They might have been taken off an estate or whatever. There is one such building in my constituency, the tile of which needs to be established before it can be disposed of. We have had some very willing local authorities that have taken on some of these buildings and, regrettably, we also have some not so willing local authorities that have not taken on buildings in their areas. As a result, we have gone to auction on a number of properties in recent years.

I will give the Deputy the lowdown on the current numbers. There are 30 former Garda stations, two former Garda residences, ten Coast Guard properties, two customs properties, one meteorological station and nine others. That gives a total of 54, which is a significant reduction over the past number of years. The indicative schedule for properties we will dispose of in 2024 is as follows: Kiltullagh Garda station, County Galway, will go to auction; Shanagolden and Galbally stations in County Limerick, in my constituency, will transfer to the local authority; Rosmuck, County Galway, will transfer; Bunbeg, County Donegal, will go to auction; Mayorstone, Limerick, will transfer; Raphoe, County Donegal, will transfer to the education and training board, ETB; Buncrana, County Donegal, will transfer to the county council; Kill o' the Grange, Dublin, will transfer to the local authority; Malin, Donegal, will transfer; Broadford, County Clare, will go to auction; Ballyforan, County Roscommon, will go to auction; the former Coast Guard cottages and station in Crosshaven, County Cork, will transfer; Blackrock Road in Cork city will transfer; the former Garda Station and residence in Ballygurteen, County Cork, will transfer; Greencastle, County Donegal, is to be sold by private treaty; Mountbellew, County Galway, will go to auction; and Castlecomer, County Kilkenny, in the Chairman's constituency, will transfer to Kilkenny County Council. There will also be some miscellaneous transactions involving land. They include the former Garda station site in Scotstown, County Monaghan, which will transfer to the local authority, and Rosslare Harbour, Wexford, which is under consideration at this time by Wexford County Council. All the buildings I have listed will be dealt with this year, with a total estimated value of more than €4 million.