Information was lacking in UL's Rhebogue house purchase - the PAC hears

UNIVERSITY of Limerick are appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) again this morning. 

More than €12.5 million was spent on twenty student houses in Rhebogue, working out at a cost of €629,000 per house.

This morning's hearing was due to start at 9.30am, but was in a private session and did not begin until almost 10.20am. 

Deputy President and acting chief officer, Shane Kilcommons, told the PAC that in relation to the purchase of housing in Rhebogue, there were “shortcomings in information.” 

He also told the committee in his opening statement that “valuations were inappropriate” and that there were planning permission issues. 

“Not everyone thought Rhebogue was a good idea, and they conveyed their concerns and objections to the project sponsors,” he said, however, the project was still presented to the Governing Authority for approval. 

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He expressed his disappointment that the overpayment scandals in relation to the purchase in Rhebogue and the old Dunnes building, has put a media spotlight on UL for all of the wrong reasons. 

Mr Kilcommons acknowledged that the steps taken since the purchase of the old Dunnes building have “not addressed some core governance issues at UL.”

He described UL as a “very fine institution. It is a young, energetic, and enterprising university, with a proud record of innovation in education and scholarship.” 

Mr Kilcommons said that as well as reform, there must be accountability, so that something like this does not happen again.