Written answers

Tuesday, 8 November 2022

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Ukraine War

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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300. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform 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. [54222/22]

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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301. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number and type of unused and or unoccupied buildings in his Department’s estates’ portfolio and all bodies under his Department’s aegis. [54240/22]

Photo of Michael McGrathMichael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 301 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department (including the Office of Government Procurement) does not lease or own any properties that are currently unoccupied.

With the exception of the Office of Public Works (OPW), this is also the case for each of the bodies under the aegis of my Department.

I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the OPW manages a property portfolio in excess of 2,500 properties which includes heritage buildings, commercial office blocks, green field sites, warehouses, Coast Guard Stations and Garda Stations. As would be the norm in such a large portfolio, at any given time, there will be a number of properties being refurbished or vacant. The State will always retain a number of vacant properties for future use.

Many of these types of buildings are not readily adaptable to full time residential use. The OPW however has actively engaged with the relevant State agencies to ensure that they are fully aware of vacant properties in the portfolio that could be considered for either use for housing or for use as part of the current humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine. The relevant agencies then assess those buildings in terms of what might be suitable for residential use. Many of these properties were deemed unsuitable as they were constructed over 50 years ago and would require significant investment to comply with current regulations for residential use or are located in rural areas without the necessary services and supports.

The OPW is preparing three vacant sites in the ownership of the Commissioners which have been identified as suitable for the installation of modern quality off-site housing units for Ukrainians fleeing the war. Enabling works are scheduled to start shortly, with a view to completing the overall programme for the installation and occupation of several hundred units on a range of State owned sites around the country, on a phased basis up to end February 2023. The successful delivery of these homes will form a significant component of the State’s overall humanitarian response to the Ukrainian crisis.

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