Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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655. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 321 of 29 November 2022, if he will provide further information on a facility (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2400/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As previously indicated, the majority of the site in question is not under the ownership of the Department of Defence, but rather that of a third-party; with the Department retaining a holding on the site of approximately 1 Hectare of the overall 10 Hectare site.

While no approach has been made by the Local Authority in relation to a transfer, my Department has no objection in principle to dispose of its holding on the site for the purposes cited by the Deputy should such an approach be made by Cork County Council.

With regard to the possible disposal of the Department's interest to Cork County Council, under General Finance Sanction S.55/3/55 the Department of Defence can dispose of property directly to Local Authorities for the purposes of house building, road widening or the provision of public amenities. There is no provision that allows the Department to liaise with Community Groups directly regarding the sale of a property. Outside of this General Sanction, the Department is obliged to dispose of surplus property by way of public auction.