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

For instance, the property that is sale agreed for €150,000 at Galbally, County Limerick, is going to Limerick City and County Council. We get a valuation on a property. We are not giving them away. We are not allowed to give them away, nor should we, because they are public assets. In the first instance, we offer them to the local authorities, the HSE and public bodies. In some cases, we enter into agreements with community groups and community councils that are looking for buildings. For instance, Kilgarvan Community Council in County Kerry took a building from us. Kerry County Council took a former Garda station from us in Moyvane, County Kerry.

Sometimes it is not necessary to do it by way of sale. It can also be by long-term lease from public body to public body if it means we are facilitating a community group, for instance. We have groups such as first responders, ICA, men's sheds, and things like that. If they make it known to their local authority that they would love to have the former Garda station in X location but they have no money, the Office of Public Works would certainly consider a licence agreement to a public body or community group once the local authority is in the background. The Deputy and I both know, as constituency TDs, that community groups, though well intentioned, sometimes fall asunder. What happens to the building then? We need the local authority to be prepared to provide a safety net, by which I mean that if the community group folds, for whatever reason, we are not left with this building again and that it is given a use within the local authority's estate or a sectoral use.

Over the last 18 to 24 months, we have put a lot of pressure on local authorities and I have to say it has been worthwhile. They were slow, although I should point out that some were not. Leitrim and Roscommon county councils have been particularly to the fore in taking on these properties because they see them. Many of them are 19th century listed buildings or protected properties with fireplaces, sash windows, you name it. They do not come without problems. Otherwise, they would be snapped up. Some of them have gone to public auction in cases where the State or its agents have not shown an interest. Local families have bought them and are now living in them, so they wind up being put to a good use. One thing we have been very keen on is making sure that this list shrinks. We do not want these properties. Charges are made against us - Deputy Tóibín just did so - that we are property hoarders. We have no strategic interest in these buildings and it is in our interest that they are given a new use within the community. Since 2014, the total number of transactions is 152 and the total amount is €31,165,000.