THE government is refusing to allow a special needs organisation rent one of its buildings – which has been locked and unused for at least seven years.

The Daughters of Charity has appealed for the use of a former bank premises in west Dublin because their current accommodation is now too small for the number of those relying on its many pronged facilities.

The charity has even offered to pay rent on the empty building and maintain it until the Department of Finance decides its fate.

"We would like to see if it would meet our needs because the rent that we are paying now is very substantial," said Maureen Dunne, an administrator at the organisation. "We would be taking it over as a tenant and paying a rent on it and it would be maintained to the highest standard."

However, junior minister Martin Mansergh recently said there were no immediate plans to allow any charity or organisation use the vacant building.

The property, in Blanchardstown, was initially bought to be used as a probation and welfare office but following local objections it was decided to utilise it as a driving-test centre instead.

"However, in the current financial climate, there are no immediate plans to progress further with this project," said Mansergh.

"A number of bodies and organisations have expressed an interest in the past in acquiring the property in the event that it is deemed surplus to state requirements.

"Should it be decided that this is the case, the normal procedure would be to dispose of it by way of public tender."

The decision was criticised by Labour's Joan Burton who has made representations on behalf of the Daughters of Charity.

"It just seems extraordinary to me that the department would leave a fine building like this lying idle when there is such a need for an organisation such as the Daughters of Charity and their work with people with an intellectual disability.

"This would be an ideal location and I really hope that the minister can have a second think."

The Daughters of Charity organisation believes the location in the village centre would be ideal given that it teaches people independent living skills. They currently have about 140 people each day, aged from 18 to 68, but have run out of space at their current premises in Coolmine.

"We have two craft centres here; the main activity would be craft but also, running alongside this would be independent living skills and active citizen programmes," said Dunne.

"Every year we have more people coming in but there is no one leaving. We don't expect this for nothing."