The taxpayer has been left with a legal bill for €32 million after delays in moving a garda station in central Dublin.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has heard how a developer took legal action against the State after it failed to hand over its control of land at Harcourt Terrace in Dublin.

The developer Durkan Homes built 215 affordable homes under a 'land swap' deal' with the government.

But because of delays in moving the garda station, the State could not fulfil its side of the deal.

Geraldine Tallon from the Department of the Environment says the ruling was entirely the fault of government.