53 State-owned former garda stations closed during recession remain empty

More than 50 State-owned former garda stations shut during the recession are still lying empty in cities, towns and villages despite an urgent need for housing and ongoing calls to increase security in communities across the country.

The Office of Public Works has told TDs the number of empty former garda stations accounts for over half of all vacant properties in State possession and are costing almost half a million euro a year to secure.