4271. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the number of publicly owned buildings that were vacant on the latest date available, broken down by purpose and/or last previous use; the length of time each property has been vacant; the reason for vacancy in each case; the amount spent to maintain the property since it was first left vacant in each of the years 2020 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56858/26]

There are no buildings vacant under the Department's responsibility. The Department operates from five office locations, which are owned or leased by the Office of Public Works (OPW), and have been occupied throughout the Department's tenure.

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. 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.