To ask the Minister of Finance to detail (i) the number of requests to utilise public land, made available from another Executive department that have been made, in each of the past ten years, in each council area; and (ii) if the requests have been successful; and (iii) what the land has since been used for.

ANSWER

There is no centralised database that records requests to utilise public land owned by Executive Departments. Departments are responsible for managing their estates, which may include considering approaches from other Departments, wider public sector or external parties, regarding the use of land or buildings.

The Strategic Asset Management Unit (SAMU) in Land & Property Services (LPS) has a role in the disposal of surplus public sector land and buildings as set out in the Disposal of Surplus Public Sector Property policy. SAMU maintains records of completed disposals but does not track assets beyond completion of a sale.