University of Limerick's reputation is being 'tarnished' - Limerick minister

THE UNIVERSITY of Limerick's reputation is being tarnished and everyday that goes by it is being tarnished even more, said Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan.

Mr O'Donovan said he has spoken with Minister for Further and Higher Education and Taoiseach in waiting, Simon Harris in relation to UL.

Pressure has been growing on University of Limerick president, Professor Kerstin Mey, in recent days after it emerged the institution lost €5.2m after paying inflated prices for 20 homes in Rhebogue last year. Many different groups in the institution are saying they have no confidence in her.

In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Mr O'Donovan said under the relatively new Higher Education Authority Act (HEA), the HEA has "a suite of powers and interventions it can consider in relation to any issues of concern".

"I would hope they would consider doing this. The University of Limerick is a major third level institution. It is not only of significance to the region, but to the whole country. Its reputation needs to be maintained and that’s why I believe the involvement of the HEA in relation to current issues is so important," posted Mr O'Donovan.

Speaking to Limerick Live this Wednesday morning, the minister of state said the sums of money that are being reported here "are extraordinary" in relation to the loss made on the purchase of properties in Rhebogue.

"And it is coming on the heels of a purchase of a property in Limerick city centre which the Public Accounts Committee have been very much engaged in over the last number of years.

"I think what is needed now is, and it has to happen with a degree of haste, is an external agency to come in. The one that is primarily focused on this is the HEA. If they require expertise from other universities or even from abroad to determine exactly the scale of what it is that it is alleged to have happened here then the sooner the better," said Mr O'Donovan.

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He said the "university’s reputation is being tarnished - there is no doubt about it".

"Every day that goes by it is being tarnished even more and that is just with the allegations. Nothing has been proven here yet but these allegations are desperately serious and they need to be gotten to the bottom of.

"The institution is too important for the region to have his thing just hanging in abeyance over it while everybody else looks on as spectators. That is not appropriate," said Mr O'Donovan.