Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 23 November 2017

Public Accounts Committee

2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 12 - Management of Ancillary Services at the Garda Training College

9:00 am

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I will continue with the Dromard farm issue and OPW oversight. The Comptroller and Auditor General's narrative in the document is interesting. There is mention of a centre of excellence because Garda numbers were going to increase. The specification was 15 to 25 acres and Dromard farm is way above what was outlined at that stage. There were expressions of interest and then there was a guide price when it first went on sale. The Office of Public Works estimated a market value of €3 million and there was permission to go to €3.5 million. It was to be sold for €3.5 million, which was the upper end. The Department intervened and indicated needs could be met more effectively than through the purchase of Dromard farm, identifying a 29 acre site. For some reason, we are told that did not proceed. Dromard farm was put up for sale later with a guide price of €5.45 million and, essentially, it was purchased for €4.3 million. It was way above the specification of what was needed. Does the witness believe the value on it today is the same as the purchase price, which is somewhere in the region of €4.3 million?

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