Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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95. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if consideration will be given to making a vacant Garda station (details supplied) in County Kerry available for community use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53372/17]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The former Garda station at Camp, Co. Kerry closed on 31 January 2013 as part of An Garda Síochána’s 2013 Policing Plan.

As part of the Programme for a Partnership Government, the Policing Authority was asked to oversee a review of all closed Garda stations with a view to the possible reopening of some stations. While An Garda Síochána has identified six former stations for reopening, the final outcome of the review has yet to be published. The Commissioners of Public Works are required to await the result of this review before any decision can be reached on the future use of these closed Garda stations

The policy of the Office of Public Works (OPW) with regard to non-operational (vacant) State property, including the former Garda station at Camp, Co. Kerry is to:

1. Identify if the property is required/suitable for alternative State use by either Government Departments or the wider public sector.

2. If there is no other State use identified for a property, the 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 a 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).

In light of the above, the former Garda station at Camp is therefore not available for use by the local Community Council.