Ten closed garda stations on list of empty state-owned properties across Ireland

All three are listed as “being prepared for disposal”, a status that they have all shared for a number of years.

Ballygurteen, for example, was due to be disposed of in 2022.

The stations are among around 50 around the country that have either been shut since 2001 or closed following a policing review more than a decade ago.

The other two former garda stations in Cork are in Rathduff near Blarney, and St Luke’s in Cork city.

While the former garda station in Knocknagree is listed as being “under consideration by Cork County Council”, the one in Ballyfeard has “title issues to be resolved prior to disposal”.

A former Garda residence in Kealkil, near Bantry, also has title issues that need to be resolved before it is sold, potentially next year.

The status of seven former Irish Coastguard residential cottages opposite the Royal Crosshaven Yacht Club that appear on the list of vacant state-owned buildings is referenced as “transfer to Cork County Council for social housing”.

The status of an eighth building — formerly known as Rocket House — in the same collection of former coast guard buildings is listed as being “under consideration” by the council.

As the Irish Examiner reported in February last year, Cork County Council is proceeding with plans to convert the former coastguard cottages into 24 social housing units.

The other empty former garda stations are in Dalkey in Dublin, Ballymoe in Galway, Castlecomer in Kilkenny, and Castletown Conyers and Kilfinane in Limerick.

The sale of the former garda station in Dalkey has been agreed, while the ones in Ballymoe and Kilfinane are “being prepared for disposal”, with expected sales either this year or next.

While the one in Castletown Conyers is also being prepared for sale, there are still “title issues to be resolved prior to disposal”.

The former garda stations are among a list of 28 empty State-owned properties in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny and Waterford.

The other properties include Bannow House, in Carrigrohane, which has been empty for around a year.

The OPW says the property, which was built in 1921 on the site of a former RIC barracks from the 1890s that was burned to the ground in 1920, is “to be leased to Cork City Council”.

One of the times it was last on the market in August 2021, the asking price for the six-bed property was €600,000.