WORK will soon start on a new 14-storey office building at Limerick’s landmark Opera Square site for the Revenue Commissioners staff.
At the July meeting of Limerick City and County Council, the elected members passed a Section 183 resolution to sell lands at the Opera Square site to the Office of Public Works.
The land sale, which includes a 999-year lease, will allow the Office of Public Works to move forward with the construction of a landmark building that will be home to almost 1,000 workers.
The development of the Opera site by Limerick Twenty Thirty DAC has been supported over the last number of years by the elected members of Limerick City and County Council.
The councillors provided their approval for loan funding from the European Investment Bank and also approved a previous Section 183 allowing the building of Number One Opera Square to proceed, with the support of the Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF).
Commenting on the latest decision, Mayor John Moran said “it has been a long 10 years coming, but it is great to see us finally pass this important milestone in the delivery of the OPW building”.
“I want to thank the councillors for voting unanimously to support our recommendation. I want to thank the ministers of the OPW and their officials, the team at Limerick Twenty Thirty and at LCCC for their tireless work to make this happen. But most of all I want to thank the people of Limerick for their patience. We all look forward now to delivering More for Limerick together.”
Also welcoming the decision was new Council Príomh Chomhairleoir, Cllr Catherine Slattery, who said she wanted to “congratulate my colleagues, the government, the Office of Public Works, and all involved for their belief in Limerick”.
“This decision by my colleagues today shows real faith in our city – in its potential, its people, and its future. The investment by government in this new building will be a catalyst project leading to significant private sector investment in our city centre.”
Council Director General Dr Pat Daly thanked all those who have played key roles in the Opera Square project to date.
“This has been a collaborative effort from the very beginning. I want to thank the many Council and Limerick Twenty Thirty DAC staff who worked tirelessly on this, as well as the multiple government departments and ministers who supported us along the way,” Dr Daly said.
