Sell City Hall to reduce local authority debt

That was the call last week from Limerick county councillor Kevin Sheahan (FF) who said it would make sense for the new merged local authority to use the purpose-built county hall in Dooradoyle instead. He made the call at a meeting of the council at which members were filled in on the state of council finances as the end of the year approaches. Cllr. Sheahan said that when the two local authorities merge, “We should consider disposing of City Hall  and reducing our mortgage outgoings. We have a purpose-built building in the County Hall which could serve the new authority more than adequately”.

A recent report on the merger of the two local authorities concluded that City Hall would more than likely be the new headquarters for the joint council.
At last week’s monthly meeting of the county council, members were told that the financial officer has negotiated an overdraft facility of €9.5 million in case their finances get into difficulties. ”We have factored this in case of an emergency and it will not cost us anything unless we avail of it,” he said.
The members were told that an overdraft facility was in place this year but there was no need to use it.
They heard that 66,14 per cent of homeowners in the county council area have now paid the household charge and 5,000 reminder letters were sent last month with a further 4,000 due to be sent out this month.