The Garda watchdog is locked into a 25-year €1million a year lease for its headquarters.
The bill the taxpayer foots for the Garda Ombudsman Commission’s premises at Abbey Street in Dublin has been slammed by Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy as “excessive”.
She also points out the Department of Justice has the old Garda station at 44 and 45 O’Connell Street lying idle.
Ms Murphy said using these properties could save the public purse some of the watchdog’s €25million rent bill.
She added: “It would have been more prudent to liaise with the Office of Public Work on these matters. The OPW have an extensive range of properties.
“OPW have a defined policy in place regarding surplus vacant properties, and provisions within that policy could have been utilised in identifying a suitable use for perhaps the old Garda Station on O’Connell street. It could potentially have served GSOC with office space in a city centre location without incurring the annual rent of just over €1million.”
In response to a parliamentary question, the Department of Justice confirmed to Ms Murphy the O’Connell Street premises are vacant and no
decision has been taken on whether it will ever reopen as a Garda station.
It added: “The Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources.
“This includes responsibility for the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations.
“In December last year, the Garda Siochana Inspectorate confirmed it is appropriate the Commissioner should continue to hold this responsibility.”
“Their future use is being considered in line with OPW’s policy on surplus vacant property.”
