Sport is to be a central part of the €224 million capital investment plan outlined for the University of Limerick.
The projects number 12 in total, are planned to be delivered over the next five years and will lead to the creation of 710 construction jobs and 290 full time roles.
The sporting elements of the plan include a second 25M swimming pool with a specific diving area; a dedicated team training centre for Munster Rugby and six state of the art floodlit all weather training pitches.
New science facilities; a new student services building including a concert area and cinema; and a doubling of space for the Glucksman Library make up the rest of the ambitious plans.
The project is being funded in large part by a development loan from the European Investment Bank as well as by other sources including elements of philanthropic donation, state grants and commercial loans backed by commercial activities.
“Our Plan outlines our vision for the future development and expansion of the University of Limerick covering 50,000 square metres of state-of-the-art research, student, sports and academic facilities,” said Professor Don Barry, President of the University.
“The granting of this loan facility clearly indicates a very welcome endorsement of UL’s development plans by the European Investment Bank. We look forward to working closely with the EIB to optimise the benefits which this will deliver for UL, for Limerick, for Ireland and the EU as we extend UL’s role as a dynamic agent of economic, social and cultural development.”
There has been no formal comment on the plans from Munster Rugby but this development clearly played a part in its decision this year to establish a single training base for the team, following the lead set by Leinster at UCD.
At the time CEO Garret Fitzgerald was keen to stress the decision on location would be based purely on the investment one of the three potential bases could put into the facilities. This is clearly on a different scale to what could have been tabled by either Cork or Limerick Institutes of Technology.
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