John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

765. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount spent across his Department over the past five years on maintaining vacant or unused State-owned properties, including security arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18732/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

​The Office of Public Works is responsible for procurement of office and other accommodation required for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and accordingly the arrangements for maintaining vacant State owned properties, including security arrangements is matter for that Office.

The Department of Transport Tourism & Sport has one vacant/unused property which is an old Coast Guard Station (Rocket House) in Dun Laoghaire Harbour, Co Dublin. The Irish Coast Guard was advised by the Office of Public Works that the entrance to the building was unsafe.  The Irish Coast Guard then requested the OPW to carry out "make safe works" which involved the erecting of hoarding & safety notices and locking the entrance to the building. The Department paid €3,178 to the OPW in 2015 to carry out the necessary works. The Department is in the process of arranging the disposal of the property.