Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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157. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 99 of 4 October 2017, the process and method regarding the way in which a closed Garda station was repurposed and assigned to a body or group; if there was an application process; if the closed stations were publicly advertised as being available for alternative uses; if planning permission was sought for change of use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43433/17]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works (CPW) that the policy with regard to non-operational (vacant) State property, including the former Garda stations is to:

1. Identify if the property is required/suitable for alternative State use by both Government departments and the wider public sector.

2. If there is no other State use identified for a property, the Office of Public Works (OPW) will then consider disposing of the property on the open market if and when conditions prevail, in order to generate revenue for the Exchequer.

3. If no State requirement is identified, or if a decision is taken not to dispose of a particular property, the OPW may consider community involvement (subject to detailed written submission, which would indicate that the community/voluntary group has the means to insure, maintain and manage the property and that there are no ongoing costs for the Exchequer.

The Office of Public Works, in consultation with other State Agencies, identified alternative State uses for the eight properties listed in the table. There was no advertising process and the various State Bodies communicating with each other identified the alternatives uses. The relevant change of use planning is a matter for the new occupants of the properties.

Properties Retained or Under Consideration for Alternative State use (8)

Following the closure of the 139 Garda stations as part of An Garda Síochána’s rationalisation programme announced in An Garda Síochána’s 2012 and 2013 Policing Plans, numerous community groups seeking to secure the former Garda station properties for community use approached the Office of Public Works.

The twelve community groups identified below were licenced to use the properties for community use, on the basis of a detailed application to the Commissioners of Public Works. The application process had to satisfy the Commissioners that each community group had the means to insure, maintain and manage the properties. In each case, there is a clause in the licence that, should there be a future State requirement for the property, the State can regain the use of the property.

The relevant change of use planning is a matter for each of the community groups to secure.

Assigned for Community Use (12)