Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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191. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if property valuations received by the Office of Public Works regarding 44-45 O'Connell Street, Dublin 1, since it acquired the properties to date will be required; the amount it originally paid for the properties; if the Office of Public Works has been offered off-market sums and-or land and-or property swaps to dispose of the properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35408/19]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The building at 44 O’Connell Street was acquired by the Commissioners of Public Works (OPW) in 1941 for a price of IRL£7,440.  The title to 45 O’Connell Street was assigned to the Local Government Board of Ireland in 1877 and passed to the Minister for Finance under the 1954 State Property Act.  There was no payment involved.  In 2008 the Minister for Finance conveyed title to the OPW for a nominal fee of €10.

Given the length of time the State has owned these properties considerable research is required in relation to historical valuations.  OPW will revert to the Deputy directly on this as soon as possible.

These adjoining buildings are now vacant and are in a poor state of repair.  In recent years OPW was approached by adjoining owners in relation to the possible acquisition of OPW’s interest in the properties.  However as the future use of the properties is still under active consideration by the OPW the details of any discussions, including valuations etc. is highly commercially sensitive at this time.