Augustinians get permission for student halls in Limerick

LIMERICK’s Augustinian Community has secured conditional planning permission to provide student accommodation in the heart of the city.

The former St Augustine’s school at Augustinian Lane is to be converted into a student complex which will house six young men.

The church will be looking to recruit students attending one of Limerick’s third-level colleges to form a new branch of the religious community, known as the Ostia brotherhood.

While the first batch of students – expected to move in 12 months from now – will be drawn from two Augustinian secondary schools in Co Wexford, in subsequent years, any young man who is an active member of an Augustinian Church may apply.

Fr Noel Hession is the member of the order leading the initiative.

The old school will get a “lot of refurbishment” he said previously.

The entrance door will be moved to the centre for fire safety reasons, while the windows will be replaced.

There will be a kitchen, a sitting room, and a prayer facility with all bedrooms en-suite.

An outdoor communal area will also be used.

Limerick City and County Council gave the development planning permission subject to ten conditions.

These include a stipulation the apartments will be used for students only, the courtyard areas must be landscaped, with all works on the building supervised on an ongoing basis by a conservation architect.

Bicycle parking must also be made available on site, local authority planners stipulated.