US firm set to lease part of Limerick County Hall

Limerick City and County Council is in advanced talks with a major US multinational about leasing part of County Hall.

The headquarters of the former Limerick County Council is located adjacent to the Crescent Shopping Centre in Dooradoyle and Raheen Industrial Park.

It is believed a US corporation identified the building as suitable as an administrative centre.

The new Limerick City and County Council will, however, retain most of the building where the council chamber is to undergo refurbishment to accommodate the 40-member council.

The chamber was originally designed to cater for 28 councillors.

A spokeswoman for the council said: “The merger of Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council has led to discussions around the potential use of local authority assets as they become available.

“The local authority is currently in discussions about the potential use of vacant office space within its own assets to be used — on an interim basis— as part of its economic development role to attract and encourage investment when the opportunity arises.”

However when contacted by the Irish Examiner, the council sent an email to councillors and staff advising no comment be made in public which might identify the new tenant.

This email to councillors and staff stated: “You will appreciate that there is considerable commercial sensitivity around this issue but we will keep you informed of developments as they arise.”

No details of the rent which will be paid or the amount of space to be let were available from the council.

With the merger, the new Limerick City and County Council has two administrative buildings, City Hall in the city centre and County Hall in Dooradoyle.

As part of the planned renewal of the city centre, the district court located in the City Hall building will be moved to a new building to be built near Limerick prison. It will also provide additional space to the council.

Many staff who previously worked at County Hall have been relocated to City Hall which will function as the main administrative hub of the new council.

The council is expected to generate considerable income from the letting of floors in County Hall given its location close to Raheen industrial park.

The location of high-end jobs in County Hall will give a big boost property values in the area.

One auctioneer said: “People moving to work in County Hall will hold highly paid jobs and will be looking to locate in the general area. So this should give property values a big lift and indeed the general retail sector in the area will benefit.”