Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works (OPW) that they, like other State bodies, are obliged to follow central Government policies on the disposal of surplus properties including former Garda station properties. The arrangements involved are set out in the following Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) Circulars:

• Circular 11/2015: Protocols for the Transfer and Sharing of State Property Assets
• Circular 17/2016: Policy for Property Acquisition and for Disposal of Surplus Property

As a matter of policy, no property is disposed of until there is absolute certainty that there is no alternative State use for that property.

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 a 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).

In line with the above policy and in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform Circular: Protocols for the Transfer and Sharing of State Property Assets. (DPENDPR Circular 11/15) the OPW sought alternative State use by offering the property to all relevant State Bodies including Clare County Council but none of the State Bodies expressed an interest in acquiring the property.

Therefore, in the absence of an agreed proposal from a State body to acquire the property, the OPW must dispose of the former Garda station on the open market in an open and transparent manner.

The former Garda station at Broadford is currently being prepared for sale by public/online auction, which will be held at 12 pm on 15 February 2024 and managed by Rooney Auctioneers. Full details of the auction are available from Rooney Auctioneers, 99 O’Connell Street, Limerick, V94 P8CY and www.rooneys.eu.