Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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45. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress made in the implementation of the property asset management delivery plan; if a database has been compiled detailing all property owned by the State and local authorities; the number of properties that are classified as vacant; his plans for these vacant properties; if these properties are suitable for a residential purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40452/17]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Regarding the property asset management delivery plan, have we a central database of all properties that the State possesses and the condition of that property? Where the vacant element of that property is concerned, what can be done for people who are seeking homes or to offer opportunities for community groups, SMEs and so on in areas of the country where they are needed?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government's property asset management delivery plan, "Accommodating Change - Measuring Success", was published in July 2013 with the main objective of managing "the Public Service property portfolio in a professional, co-ordinated and efficient manner".

The OPW, with its chairman as the delivery plan’s senior responsible officer, has led these changes across the public service with progress overseen by a steering group. Significant progress has been made and was reported in the final progress report on the public service reform plan 2014-2016 published in July 2017. The utility and further development of outputs will continue long after the reform plan timeframe.

One of the outputs that will require continued maintenance and development is the State property register, which was developed under the delivery plan. It currently has basic details of over 24,000 properties, which are owned or leased by 94 individual organisations including central Government, local government, the HSE and non-commercial State organisations. As recently as March of this year, it indicated there were 92 vacant properties. They were mainly closed Garda stations which are subject to a review that is currently being undertaken by the Policing Authority.

I am reluctant to say that because those properties are vacant they are surplus. There are many uses for which these properties are being sought and could be used in the future. In direct answer to the Deputy's question, that is the figure his question looked for.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To confirm, there are 24,000 State properties and only 92 of those are vacant. Of the 24,000, how many are under-utilised? How many have space within them that is under-utilised? Can the Minister confirm that only 92 of 24,000 properties are vacant?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The information I have indicates that the State property register has basic details on over 24,000 properties. According to the March read of this information, there are 92 vacant OPW properties. Those are properties that are directly managed by the State. I will see if I can get information for the Deputy regarding every other property. I am only responsible at this stage for the OPW properties but I will see if I can get the information on what properties of other State organisations are vacant.