Mr. John Sydenham:

As we mentioned earlier, we are scheduled to dispose of approximately 20 this year. This will take time.

A number still have occupied married quarters and we need to resolve this issue with the Garda Síochána. As some are very old former RIC stations, the legal process to prepare them for disposal takes time, but a programme is under way. There is no outer limit on community engagement, but when we reach this stage, it will be a bit more involved than many communities realise. The transaction with a community must be through a legal entity with which we can have a formal enforceable agreement. Health and safety issues must also be considered. A building which was a small Garda station is not a community centre and severe modifications may be required to comply with fire and disabled access regulations if large numbers of people are to use it. This is expensive and generally beyond the reach of many community groups. It is not as easy as dealing directly and coming up with a solution, but we will work through it. That said, we have received very good proposals from a wide variety of groups which will in due course have merit and be worth pursuing. The organisation and the Minister are very anxious to go through the cycles. Another State body using a building would be good because it would save us buying alternative properties. Some of the buildings are very valuable and will make much needed revenue. Beyond this, the optimum way is to give benefit to communities, but we must be sure they have the wherewithal to make a go of it. In certain circumstances we will take back a building in a far worse state than we gave it. This will work for everyone, but we are going through a system. To answer the original question, there is no limit.