Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
466. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to review correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10485/26]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility, on behalf of the State, for managing and maintaining a substantial and complex estate of approximately 2,500 properties.
This extensive and diverse portfolio of State properties includes office accommodation for all Government Departments, the property estate for An Garda Síochána and numerous properties for many State Agencies. The portfolio also encompasses specialised spaces such as public offices, laboratories and cultural institutions, in addition to warehouses, heritage properties, visitor centres and sites.
In any major portfolio, there will always be a certain level of vacant or non-operational properties, at any given time, as the portfolio could not function without the flexibility that it provides. Not all vacant properties will be deemed surplus to the State’s requirements or suitable for disposal.
The Office of Public Works (OPW), like other State bodies, is obliged to follow central government policies on the disposal of surplus properties and the arrangements involved are set out in the following Department of Public Expenditure & Reform (DPER) 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.
The OPW’s policy in managing surplus properties in accordance with the aforementioned circulars is:
• Firstly, to establish if the property is required for alternative State use, including the potential for it to be re-purposed for either Government Departments or the wider public service. A number of strategic properties are retained in anticipation of potential State use/development in line with service demands arising from Government policy changes to public service provision.
• Secondly, if no State use is identified, the OPW considers if open market disposal is an option, depending on prevailing market conditions.
• Thirdly, the OPW may consider community involvement, subject to a detailed submission that demonstrates that the community or voluntary group seeking to use the property has the means to insure, maintain and manage it in order to reduce costs to the Exchequer.
In line with the above policy and in accordance with DPER Circular 11/15: Protocols for the Transfer and Sharing of State Property Assets the OPW has sought alternative State use by offering the property to all relevant State Bodies.
Alternative State use for the former Garda station and residence at Bawnboy is currently under consideration by Cavan County Council and the OPW is therefore not in a position to consider Templeport Development Association’s submission at this time.
