Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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306. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the former Garda station in Ardagh, County Longford (details supplied). [51128/22]

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. This extensive and diverse portfolio of State properties extends from Leinster House to Skellig Michael and includes office accommodation for all Government Departments, the property estate for An Garda Síochána and numerous properties for many State Agencies.

I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that all surplus properties, including the former Garda station property at Ardagh, Co. Longford are treated in line with the disposal policy of the Office of Public Works (OPW).

The OPW policy with regard to non-operational (vacant) State property 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 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).

When a property is deemed surplus to the requirements of the Commissioners, the OPW notifies all relevant stakeholders as part of the OPW policy on the disposal of surplus assets. This includes notifying the Land Development Agency and the relevant local authorities who may be interested in acquiring the property for housing purposes.

In line with the above policy, the OPW has sought alternative State use for the property in Ardagh, Co Longford. To date no State requirement has been identified. The OPW is therefore proceeding with preparing the property for disposal on the open market during 2023.