UL unable to provide evidence of evaluating €8m site purchase

Dunnes Stores, Sarsfield Street, Limerick, which was purchased by UL for €8m in 2019 despite having been valued at €3m in 2017. Picture: University of Limerick

The University of Limerick (UL) proceeded with the purchase of a vacant site in Limerick city, allegedly for €5m above its value, despite concerns raised by members of its own governing authority.

The university cannot currently provide evidence it undertook an independent evaluation of the former Dunnes Stores site on Sarsfield's Bridge before it purchased it for roughly €8m in 2019. It has since emerged that the site was valued at just €3m in 2017.