Limerick Diocese plans sale of five-acre site as it battles funding shortfall

THE Limerick Diocese is to bring a five-acre site to market as it battles a funding shortfall brought about by a fall in attendance at Mass.

The land, in Corbally, adjacent to the Diocesan Centre and St Munchin’s School, is set to go on the market next week, and is zoned for residential, meaning housing could be build on site.

And Bishop Brendan Leahy has warned that further sales may be necessary in the future, saying: “difficult decisions to ensure the long-term viability of the Diocese”.

He added the deficit facing the Diocese of Limerick is not sustainable in the long-term.

“The reality is that we are facing into a sustained position of a yearly deficit in our budget. While we are fortunate to have some reserves, this is not a situation that can continue indefinitely,” Bishop Leahy said.

READ MORE: 'I'll cherish our memories forever': Sister of Limerick mum Scarlett Faulkner pays emotional tribute

The Diocese employs the equivalent of 13 full-time staff delivering a wide range of services to parishes and priests across Limerick.

These include child and adult safeguarding, pastoral and youth ministry, lay-pastoral supports, liturgical resources and support for the promotion of vocations and the ongoing formation of clergy.

They are paid through a monthly levy from churches in the form of the Diocesan need collection.

However, Bishop Leahy said with Mass attendance declining over recent decades, that fund is proving difficult to maintain.

Bishop Leahy said: “We are in a situation where our costs are rising, and we need to employ competent lay people who provide wonderful service. But our income base is reducing due to declining Mass attendance. This creates a gap that we simply cannot ignore.”

The senior cleric said any decisions made will be guided by a desire to retain services.

“Our priority is to continue supporting parishes, schools and communities across the Diocese in the best way possible. The commitment of our, priests, staff and volunteers is extraordinary and any decisions we take will be guided by a desire to protect these vital services into the future,” he said.

The sale of the site in Corbally, he added is one of a number of steps which must be considered to stablise the financial position of the Diocese.

“It is important that we act now, in a measured and responsible way, to safeguard the future of the Diocese,” he added.