Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the State owned buildings currently not in use; his proposals for these buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52094/12]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Work's property portfolio consists of approximately 2,200 buildings, both owned and leased. Of these, some 60% are State owned. Currently there are approximately 100 vacant State owned buildings in the portfolio. Of these, 47 are former Garda stations and the rest comprise mainly former custom posts, coastguard stations and sundry other properties. A number of these properties are at various stages of conveyancing by the Office of the Chief State Solicitor.

The protocol for dealing with surplus property is as follows: OPW identifies if there is a requirement for the property by any other State body. Consideration is also given to the utilisation of the property asset by the wider public service bodies i.e. local authorities, the HSE, etc.; and if there is no identified requirement, the property asset is then considered for sale or community use. The objective in the current challenging economic climate is to minimise the cost to the State in maintaining its property portfolio.

Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for the use of the former Garda Station building in Rush, County Dublin; the possibility of this building being offered on a short term basis to a local community group as requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52095/12]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I refer to previous representations by the Deputy in relation to the proposal that this Garda station might be available for community use. The Office of Public Works (OPW) have requested, through the Deputy, that the Scouts Group would contact the relevant officer in the OPW with a view to identifying the potential use of this Garda station under licence. To-date, this office has not received any communication from the group in question. I am positively disposed to granting a lease to local community groups where Garda Stations become available. I am more than happy to advance the proposal in Rush when contact is made with the OPW.