Questions raised by councillors over Limerick Twenty Thirty plans and loan request

WHAT say will councillors have in the Cleeves Site in Limerick once it is transferred by the council to Limerick Twenty Thirty, Solidarity’s Cllr Paul Kelleher asked at this Monday’s meeting of Limerick City and County Council.

“I do have concerns. I am not totally settled in my mind this is a good thing to happen to this site once it goes to Limerick Twenty Thirty,” he said and he questioned whether councillors would have any power of approval over what would be done with the site.

The building, he pointed out was very closely connected to the Limerick Soviet events of 1919. “Are we selling off part of our history and heritage,” he asked and he was worried that Limerick Twenty Thirty would see it “strictly as a business Limerick ”

Limerick Twenty Thirty was fully owned by the council, chief executive Conn Murray assured him. “It is an arm of the council.”  Proposals for the site would come before the new council, he said. These are likely to include plans for commercial office and residential accommodation but also elements of culture and educational activity.

Earlier, Cllr John Gilligan had sought to stall the transfer of Culture House or No 2 Pery Square to the Limerick Civic Trust on a 25 year lease  but was defeated in his attempt.

And the question of leasing the second floor of County Hall prompted questions from Cllr Seighin O’Ceallaigh about the long-term strategy for council accommodation at the one location. “It is five years on since the merger, “ he said. “And we haven’t sorted out pooled premises for the council.”

“We have considerable work done in relation to housing the council,” Mr Murray said. County Hall provided a fine chamber as well as services to the public he said.

But there was surprise at the proposal to raise a further loan of €1.775m for Limerick Twenty Thirty to fit out the ground floor and first and second storeys of the Gardens International building.  “I thought they was ready to move into,” Cllr John Costello said.

“We would like to get more information than ‘can you give us another loan’”, Cllr Emmett O’Brien said. “Are we going to get quarterly reviews from Limerick Twenty Thirty?” he asked.

Previously, the council had spent €1.32m buying the site, councillors were told,  and then gave a loan facility of €23.76m to Limerick Twenty Thirty to develop the site, including the fit-out of the third, fourth and fifth floors.  

Councillors were also asked to approve an interest only loan facility of €4.443m to Limerick Twenty Thirty for the purchase the Cleeves Factory site from the council, prompting one councillor to ask: “Are we paying on the double?”

“I raised concerns about the accountability of this company (Limerick Twenty Thirty) to this council and proposed they should come four times a year to explain what they are doing, in advance and that was passed,” Cllr John Gilligan declared.

However, Cllr Seamus Browne said the councillors should congratulate themselves as it was their decision that had enabled the Gardens International project.

Without that decision, an eyesore in the centre of the city would still be there, he said. “It is important to remember we are the shareholders, we own Limerick Twenty Thirty, not the executive