Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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1920. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department plans to purchase a site (details supplied) in Athy. [55121/17]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 608 on 26 July 2017. The Department does not have plans to purchase the property in question.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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1921. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the vacant properties and land not in use, owned, rented or leased by her Department or by bodies and agencies under the aegis of her Department by square footage for buildings and acres for land, in tabular form; the address and location of these properties; and the last date of occupancy or use of these properties. [55208/17]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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As previously advised to the House, the management properties occupied by staff of my Department and the bodies under its aegis is primarily a matter for the Office of Public Works.  On occasion my Department may also be required to lease additional property for specific purposes.  I am advised that any such properties are fully occupied at present.

The Deputy will also be aware that the ownership of significant lands across the country, including national parks, national monuments sites, nature reserves and other property acquired for purposes of heritage protection and conservation is also vested in my Department for use in connection with its statutory remit.

Two of the bodies under the aegis of Department, Údarás na Gaeltachta, and Waterways Ireland also own and manage properties in connection with their functions. 

Údarás na Gaeltachta is the owner of a significant portfolio of commercial properties in Gaeltacht areas arising from its development role.  Details of currently available properties in each of the Gaeltacht counties are available directly from Údarás na Gaeltachta. 

Waterways Ireland manages and maintains land and property along the Barrow Navigation, the Grand Canal, the Royal Canal, the Shannon-Erne Waterway and the Shannon Navigation in Ireland and the Erne System the Lower Bann in the north of Ireland.

Land and property owned by Waterways Ireland is associated with the operation of the inland waterways network and the maintenance of the amenity value of the waterways. The land consists primarily of the canal corridor, adjoining towpaths and banks and areas of bogland.

Waterways Ireland owns the following properties which are currently vacant but in various states of repair. Waterways Ireland has an active programme for redeveloping the canal networks built heritage into modern day uses. In the past year 3 navigation properties have been redeveloped for community, recreation and commercial activity alongside the development of the canals as long distance recreational corridors.