Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We need to have a real debate this afternoon about what the State can do regarding community events and centres. The State is probably the largest landowner in the country, whether the Office of Public Works, the HSE, An Garda Síochána or schools. The amount of properties these organisations own in every town and village in Ireland is phenomenal.

The use of these properties is a great concern for many, especially those in the community sector. I am raising the issue on the back of something that happened in my home town of Kinsale in recent days. A long-term lease was signed for an old HSE building. We put in a men's shed, a youth café and Kinsale youth support services. These three organisations were put into one old HSE building that was revamped. That has to be a template for other towns and villages throughout Ireland. For that to happen, the OPW must have a real strategic view and audit of its structures and buildings throughout the State. Once the office does that, it can then look at the communities to see how the properties can benefit the communities by doing something like what we did in Kinsale. Three organisations are based in one premises there. The building is suitable and appropriate. It is what the town was looking for. This can happen everywhere but for it to happen the OPW needs to get involved and be proactive in this area. A long-term lease was taken in this case. It involved a small amount of money. One knock-on effect was that three organisations were housed. Another knock-on effect is that the entire community got a real lift and benefit from an old derelict building being revamped.

We need to call in the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works to ask him about his long-term strategic view for all these properties. It does not matter whether they are old HSE buildings or old Garda stations. We need to see these properties being used by community groups rather than being sold on the private market. They are too important to us and are a real part of our ethos and community. We need to invite the Minster of State with responsibility for the OPW, Deputy Boxer Moran, before the House. We need a real review of his policy in order that an audit can be done. We need to find these buildings and then work with communities to house these great community groups that need a little help to get a base so that they can flourish.