Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
934. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the total land holding by his Department, broken down by county, including the amount currently unused or vacant, the portion zoned for development, and the number of sites that include vacant or derelict properties. [47631/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department operates from five office locations, which are owned or leased by the Office of Public Works (OPW). Additionally, the Department owns three aerodromes in County Galway, Aerfort Chonamara, Indreabhán, Inishbofin aerodrome, and Cleggan aerodrome. Aerfort Chonamara is the base for the Pubic Service Obligation air service to the Aran Islands, and the aerodrome includes the runway, terminal building and aircraft hangars. The aerodrome on Inishbofin includes a helipad, used by the Irish Coast Guard to provide emergency medical evacuations from the island all year round. There are no buildings on the site. The Department is engaging with the HSE to facilitate the transfer of a portion of land adjoining the airstrip to the HSE for the construction of a new health centre on Inishbofin. The aerodrome at Cleggan is currently used as a temporary base for the Irish Coast Guard. The Department has had engagement with the OPW regarding the construction of a new coast guard station on a portion of land adjoining the airstrip at Cleggan. The Department does not have any other landholdings.
