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

If there is a State body locally that wants to take possession of the building, it needs to demonstrate that it can manage it. We do not want buildings taken over and ending up in a quasi-derelict state. The buildings can be taken over by a State agency for local use. For example, an unused Garda station on the main street of a town could be transferred to a local authority and taken into the local housing stock. That is the optimum use. If that is not a realisable prospect, the building can be brought into use by the HSE or another State body for use locally for the provision of community or State services. That is the preferred option. Where none of that is possible, if a community group can demonstrate that with the support of LEADER it can provide a local service such as a crèche, community centre or other local amenity, it will be offered a 25, 50 or 99-year lease. This has happened in my constituency and I am sure it has happened in the Deputy's constituency as well. We do not want to burden the local community with a facility that ends up being a millstone around its neck. Where we have entered into discussions with community groups around this process, many of them have backed on the basis that it is too much hassle for them. Our ambition is to dispose of these buildings.