The government is spending around €600,000 annually to maintain vacant properties across the country, according to new figures obtained by Fianna Fáil.

The information also shows that 395 properties are rented across the country.

Fianna Fáil's Barry Cowen TD, Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform, hit out at the government over the figures.

Mr Cowen slammed the State for wasting public money as it reportedly spends €88m per annum on renting office space while around 96 state owned properties remain idle.

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He said: "Recent information received by my Party shows that the Government is spending vast amounts of money renting office space while state owned properties, including 50 Garda station, lie idle.

"A list of empty state properties should be furnished and where feasible, rented offices should be transferred to them. The state has a duty to keep costs down and maintain a suitable property portfolio. From January we will have a ridiculous situation whereby one state property will be subject to the vacant site levy.

"It's important that the tax payer gets full value for money for the rent paid to private property owners. We should not get sucked into paying massive sums of money on rent while we have buildings gathering moss," concluded Deputy Cowen.

(CM/MH)