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

First of all, I do not accept the Deputy's charge. I do not think there was a question there at all. It presupposes that we are hanging on to properties without engaging with anybody, which is not the case. As an organisation, our preference has always been - if it is a disused Garda station or a property that has been transferred from HSE, for example, to the OPW - to give it to the local authorities in the first instance. Some local authorities have been exceptional in their interactions with us, particularly with regard to former Garda stations. Leitrim and Roscommon county councils stand out in this regard. However, the vast majority of local authorities needed encouragement to take on these properties, many of which are untitled. I can think of one in my own constituency which came from an estate originally. It was formerly an RIC barracks then became a Garda station and then was transferred to us. It did not have clear title so the transfer of the property is not something that can be done overnight. In conjunction with the Department of Social Protection, funding has been provided to local authorities to take on once off buildings. We have seen a number of currently vacant buildings that we have responsibility for drop substantially. Within the first quarter of 2024 that figure will drop again. The number of properties currently vacant and surplus stands at 80. This comprises 57 buildings and 23 sites. Of that figure, 25 are former Garda stations. All the local authorities will have been offered those buildings. There are also four Garda residences and ten Coast Guard properties, eight of which I know are in the process of being transferred to Cork County Council. There are two former Customs properties, one meteorological station property and a number of others.

Regarding the sites that the Deputy referred to as being hoarded, we were very lucky when the Ukrainian situation affected Ireland that the OPW office had sites such as those at Claremorris, Thurles and Cavan. Someone like the Deputy might have said stick a "for sale" sign on it and take the first offer that comes in. Had we done that and taken the Deputy's advice we would not have had those sites to build the houses for those families across the country.