Higher Education

University of Limerick’s €12m housing purchase went ahead despite senior official’s early concerns

UL’s planning director recommended that the Rhebogue purchase should not be presented to senior officials, but the project proceeded regardless

John Field: UL’s director of management, planning and reporting said ‘significant pressure’ was exerted to progress the acquisition of the Rhebogue properties

A senior finance official at the University of Limerick (UL) sounded the alarm over the college’s acquisition of 20 nearby properties before the project received approval, but the proposal proceeded regardless.

John Field, director of management, planning and reporting at UL, has said “significant pressure” was exerted to progress the acquisition of 20 houses in Rhebogue, Co Limerick, in 2022 – a transaction that has since plunged the university into chaos.

At a meeting of ...