New house on campus for University of Limerick president cost €2.3m
THE new residence for the president of the University of Limerick on campus cost €2.3m, a report to the Minister for Education has confirmed.
Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe had requested a report on the development and the sources of its funding, after construction began last year.
The plans had been announced by UL more than two years previously as part of its long term objectives.
The report to the Minister on the five-bedroom, three-storey residence has now been released, while UL had refused an earlier Freedom of Information request to release the report's contents.
The report states it has been the aim of UL since its foundation in 1972 to provide a president's house, and they are now proceeding to dispose of another residence in Killaloe, which was formerly home to past president, Dr Roger Downer.
Guest accommodation and a dining room, which can seat up to 26 guests, are among the features of the new residence.
The residence, funded by Atlantic Philanthropies, had attracted controversy earlier this year.
UL president Prof Don Barry, who will be the first to live in the new residence with his wife Anna, has reserved comment on the controversy, except to say he is "looking forward to living on one of the most beautiful university campuses in Europe."
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly said the construction of this residence in the current climate was like giving a €900,000 bonus to former FAS director Rody Molloy.
Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Kevin Kiely, said the residence should be "scrapped" or sold and the funds reinvested in education.
"I totally agree that a residence like that is too lavish. There is no need for it.
"I am totally opposed to it. It's sending out the wrong message," said Mayor Kiely, who sits on the Governing Authority, the university's highest decision making body.
But many others lauded the project. Labour city councillor Tom Shortt described the development as "progressive" and "exciting".
Cllr Shortt said the residence will provide inspiration for the university's architecture students, as it has been designed by the award-winning Irish architect Shelley McNamara of Grafton Architects.
"Our university has not been standing still, and that it a very good thing.
"I think the money is being well spent, and we need a bit of vision at the moment. Maybe we could take a leaf out of their book in the city.
"UL is terribly important to the image of Limerick city itself. If UL proved to be prestigious internationally then that benefits Limerick," said Cllr Shortt.
Labour's spokesman on education, Ruairi Quinn, said the spend on the residence is "perfectly reasonable."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Limerick
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: South east
