I have been in touch with NAMA after receiving submissions from local groups who were concerned with the sale of NAMA controlled lands in their areas. I think there is huge potential for some of this land could be put to use by the local communities.
My understanding is that land which is in the control of NAMA is slowly being offered for sale throughout the country. It is accepted that NAMA has a fundamental duty to recover as much money for the State as possible.
I believe though that many of these plots of land which are set to be offered for sale in the coming months and years, could and should be of benefit to communities. Many of these land banks are situated in strategic locations in the hearts of villages and towns. I argued during the debate on NAMA in the last Dáil that the community should have a say in how NAMA lands in their localities are developed.
It makes perfect sense that if some parcels of lands are in strategic locations within towns and villages, these should be set aside for community use and offered at the same cost to the community as they were acquired by NAMA. Irish society is already picking up the tab for these properties – we should be the first to benefit from any disposal of them.
In his reply, NAMA chief executive Brendan McDonagh confirmed to me that if NAMA holds properties directly, it is Board policy to make these available for purchase at their appraised value for a limited period to State Authorities. He also confirmed that if a community group has an interest in a particular area, then they should email their requirements to info@nama.ie and NAMA will do its best to try and see if a mutually agreeable solution can be found. A full list of NAMA properties is available on the agency’s website.
I welcome this reply and would encourage any groups or local community organisations across the country to keep in mind this opportunity.
See below correspondence between myself and NAMA..
Dear Deputy Carey,
Thank you for your email.
Please be advised that the NAMA website contains a PDF document detailing all the assets that have been the subject of enforcement by NAMA. Please see the link below. Note: the person signing into this part of the website will have to agree to the terms of use of the website by clicking the box provided before the document appears.
http://www.nama.ie/about-our-work/properties-enforced/terms-of-use/
These properties may or may not be currently on the open market for sale. Each property is listed by location. If there is any property of interest to you, please contact the relevant sales agent or receiver (if no agent has been appointed to date) whose details are also provided on the PDF document.
Please be advised that the Agency acquires loans and not the property/assets underlying the loans. Accordingly in cases where not enforcement action has taken place details of properties which form security to our loans cannot be published. If any parties are interested in purchasing/renting a property and it is not on the list, it is recommended that you contact the property/asset owners. If they are unable to obtain or contact a property owner there may be scope for the Agency to contact a debtor and for them to contact them. However in order for this to occur, their particular requirements are required.
If NAMA holds properties directly it is Board policy to make these available for purchase at their appraised value for a limited period to State Authorities before they are offered to the open market. If a community group has an interest in a particular area please ask them to email their requirements to info@nama.ie and we will do our best to try and see if a mutually agreeable solution can be found.
I hope this assists.
Regards,
Brendan McDonagh
Chief Executive
National Asset Managment Agency
Treasury Building
Grand Canal Street
Dublin 2
Ireland
From: Joe Carey
Sent: 03 November 2011 11:52
To: NAMA OIR
Subject: Opportunities for local Communities with sale of NAMA Lands
Dear Sirs,
I understand that land which is in the control of NAMA is slowly being offered for sale throughout the Country. NAMA has a fundamental duty to recover as much money for the State as possible and I wish you well in this difficult task. There are so many plots of land which are set to be offered for sale in the coming months and years which could and should be of benefit to communities. Many of these land banks are situated in strategic locations in the hearts of villages and towns. I argued during the debate on NAMA in the last Dáil that the community should have a say in how NAMA lands in their localities should be developed.
Could you please clarify the position in relation to NAMA lands in respect of community use. Surely some parcels of lands in strategic locations within towns and villages should be set-aside for community use and offered at the same cost to the community as they were acquired by NAMA. Is there any mechanism in place whereby a community group can indicate their interest in a particular plot of ground or have a say at least in how such lands should be developed in their communities.
There must be some social dividend from these lands and I look forward with interest in hearing back from you.
Yours sincerely,
Joe Carey
_____________________________________
Joe Carey TD
Assistant Government Chief Whip & Clare Fine Gael TD
Dáil Éireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Constituency Office, Francis Street, Ennis, Co. Clare
Phone: 065 6891199, 01 6183337
Fax: 065 6891205 & 01 6184520
Email: joe.carey@oireachtas.ie
Web: www.joecarey.ie