Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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405.To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of plans for a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34099/24]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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425.To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a vacant Garda station in County Kerry (details supplied) will be made available to the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34991/24]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 405 and 425 together.

I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the approach of the Office of Public Works (OPW) to managing vacant and surplus properties such as the former Garda station and residence at Brosna is firstly to establish if the property is required for alternative state use. This would include the potential for it to be re-purposed for either government departments or the wider public service. 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.

In line with this policy and in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform Circular 11/15: Protocols for the Transfer and Sharing of State Property Assets, details of the former Garda station and residence at Brosna have been circulated to Government Departments and the wider public service so that they could assess the suitability of the property for social or humanitarian housing purposes or for other State use.

The OPW has also contacted Kerry County Council to establish whether the local authority has an interest in acquiring the property for housing or community use. A response has yet to be received from the Council in this regard. Should Kerry County Council not require the property, the OPW will proceed to prepare the property for disposal at auction.