The Government will later this year consider the sale of a Dublin site with planning permission for Ireland's tallest building.
The site, Heuston Gate near Heuston Station, includes plans for a 32-storey block containing 197 apartments, a fifth of which would be social and affordable housing. At more than 120 metres, the building would be the tallest in Ireland when completed, and it has received full planning approval from An Bord Pleanála.
The proposed building is located on a 4.5-acre State-owned site adjoining Dr Steevens's Hospital. The site has planning approval for 14,000 sq metres of offices, as well as shops, restaurants, a pub, childcare facilities and a public walkway between Heuston and the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
If sold by tender, the land is likely to achieve one of the highest amounts for a State-owned site, with the potential to make in excess of €100 million.
Yesterday, the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Tom Parlon, said that the Government would be considering the option of selling the site with full planning permission.
He added that the other option to be considered would be the joint development of the project as part of a public/private partnership.
Mr Parlon said it was hoped that a decision would be taken in the coming months. He was speaking after publication of the OPW's annual report, which showed that the State has made more than €360 million from the sale of properties in the past three years as part of its "Transforming State Assets" programme.
Nearly half of this was accounted for by the sale last October of the old veterinary college site in Ballsbridge for €171 million, the highest price achieved for a State-owned property.
Mr Parlon rejected claims that the property development programme for decentralisation was behind schedule.
"We are making very good progress on a range of properties around the country," he said.