Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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552. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of the empty and vacant OPW buildings across the State by county; the length of time each of the buildings has been vacant; and the annual cost of retaining these buildings on the OPW portfolio. [19073/21]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility on behalf of the State for managing and maintaining a substantial and complex estate - comprising approximately 2,500 properties -– valued at €3.3bn.

This extensive and diverse portfolio of State properties includes office accommodation for all Government Departments, the property estate for An Garda Síochána and numerous properties for many State Agencies. The portfolio also encompasses specialised spaces such as public offices, laboratories and cultural institutions, in addition to warehouses, heritage properties, visitor centres and sites.

In any major portfolio, there will always be a certain level of vacant properties. It is normal to have an amount of space vacant, or vacant properties, at any given time as the portfolio could not function without the flexibility that it provides. Not all vacant properties will be deemed surplus to the State’s requirements or deemed suitable for disposal.

The OPW, like other State bodies, is obliged to follow central Government policies on the disposal of surplus properties. The arrangements involved are set out in the following Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) Circulars:

1. Circular 11/2015: Protocols for the Transfer and Sharing of State Property Assets

2. Circular 17/2016: Policy for Property Acquisition and for Disposal of Surplus Property

As a matter of policy, no property or site is disposed of until there is absolute certainty that there is no alternative State use for that property. The OPW’s approach to managing vacant properties is firstly, to establish if the property is required for alternative State use, including the potential for it to be re-purposed either for Government Departments or the wider public service. A number of strategic properties or sites are retained in anticipation of potential State use/development in line with service demands arising from Government policy changes to public service provision.

Secondly, if no State use is identified, the OPW considers if open market disposal is an option, depending on prevailing market conditions.

Thirdly, the OPW may consider community involvement, subject to a detailed submission that demonstrates that the community or voluntary group seeking to use the property has the means to insure, maintain and manage it in order to reduce costs to the Exchequer.

The majority of properties currently vacant are former Garda Stations.

During 2012 and 2013, 139 Garda stations were closed as part of An Garda Síochána’s rationalisation programme. During 2014, 2015 and2016, the OPW disposed of 36former Garda stations. However, the disposal of these properties halted from 2016 to 2018, due to two Garda Reviews:

(i)In 2016, An Garda Síochána/Policing Authority undertook a review of the closed Garda Stations under the Programme for a Partnership Government. In late 2017, the preliminary review initially identified six stations for re-opening on a pilot basis. These were:

- Ballinspittle, Co. Cork;

- Bawnboy, Co. Cavan;

- Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow;

- Donard, Co. Wicklow;

- Stepaside, Co. Dublin;

- Rush, Co. Dublin

In January 2018, following the preliminary review, An Garda Síochána requested the OPW notto dispose of any former Garda stations that remained in State ownership, pending a further review of closed Garda stations.

(ii) This second review, carried out by the Garda Inspectorate, was published in December 2018and did not recommend the re-opening of any other former Garda stations.

The OPW recommenced its disposal programme in January 2019.

This disposal programme was again interrupted by Covid-related lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.

During 2021, subject to pandemic restrictions, there are 4 auctions planned. A further 3 are planned for 2022.

The current status of surplus and vacant properties is attached as Appendix 1.

The total costs for the year ended 31/12/2020 to the State in the maintenance and provision of security for these surplus and vacant propertiesis €380,003.04.

Costs included in this figure cover maintenance, mechanical and electrical and security outlays.

Note

The OPW is responsible for the maintenance and management of vacant State-owned properties.

For health and safety and asset protection reasons, security is provided for in certain vacant buildings which are considered to be particularly vulnerable to trespass or vandalism.