OPW to dispose of five vacant Garda stations

Five Cork garda stations which closed over a decade ago are to be disposed of by the Office of Public Works (OPW) over the next two years.

Four former garda stations are listed as “being prepared for disposal — 2026”.

They are Ballyfeard, near Kinsale; Ballygurteen, near Dunmanway and Knocknagree on the Kerry border, which have been closed since March 30, 2012. While Rathduff, near Grenagh closed on January 31, 2013.

A fifth former garda station, in Castletownshend near Skibbereen, also closed in 2012 but is listed as being prepared for disposal in 2027.

There are also eight former Coast Guard properties in Crosshaven, listed as being ready for transfer to Cork County Council for a social housing scheme. The Echo previously revealed that five of these properties are cottages that have been under OPW care since before 1993.

The OPW has ownership of 16 vacant properties in Cork that are considered surplus to requirements, including some which have been vacant over 30 years.

Minister of State Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran said the OPW has responsibility for managing and maintaining approximately 2,500 properties.

“The OPW’s policy in managing surplus vacant properties 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.

“Secondly, if no State use is identified, the OPW considers if open market disposal is an option, depending on prevailing market conditions,” said Mr Moran.

“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.”

Mr Moran said there are currently 56 OPW-owned surplus vacant buildings and one leased vacant building. He provided documentation as to the current status of the 16 surplus vacant buildings in Cork.

A former garda residence in Kealkil is also still in State ownership, with the documentation explaining that “title issues” had to be resolved prior to disposal.

The final two properties are listed as miscellaneous. Bannow House in Carrigrohane is to be leased to Cork City Council, while alternative State use is being examined for a former OPW office on Old Blackrock Road.