Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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77. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department and all bodies under his Department’s aegis have reviewed their estates' portfolio in the context of identifying unoccupied buildings that may be suitable for use in the context of meeting the accommodation needs of persons arriving in Ireland from Ukraine. [54214/22]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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78. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number and type of unused and or unoccupied buildings in his Department’s estates’ portfolio and all bodies under his Department’s aegis. [54232/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 78 together.

My Department and its Offices are tenants in ten buildings across the country in office accommodation provided to it through the Office of Public Works (OPW) who manage the State's property portfolio on behalf of Government Departments. These buildings are either state owned or leased from private landlords by the OPW.

I can confirm that, at this juncture, none of the buildings occupied by my Department or its Offices are unused or unoccupied, and that we share nine buildings with other tenants, be they other Departments, public bodies or private sector companies.

As tenants, my Department works closely with the OPW to optimise usage of the real estate made available to it and recognises the need to regularly review its accommodation requirements. With regards to the Agencies of my Department, the day-to-day management of their estates portfolio is a matter for their respective Boards and Heads of Agencies.

Notwithstanding the above, my Department is acutely aware of the need to identify buildings available to it that may be suitable for use in meeting the accommodation needs of persons arriving in Ireland from Ukraine. We are currently engaging with the Department of Children Equality Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and the OPW to identify any property that may be suitable for this purpose.

In respect of the Agencies of my Department, IDA Ireland does have a property portfolio mainly comprised of industrial units. As part of a recent separate request from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) IDA Ireland reviewed its property holdings but it was decided that the properties were not suitable for housing people and not viable options in the immediate/short-term. IDA Ireland has, however, shared its land portfolio with the Land Development Agency in an effort to identify what may be suitable for use in the context of meeting accommodation needs. I can also confirm that Enterprise Ireland are in discussions with the OPW and DCEDIY in respect of possible buildings available to them that may be suitable for use.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department and its Agencies will continue to work closely with the OPW and DCEDIY on this issue and look to assist in any way it can.