THE multi-million euro regeneration of Limerick City took another huge step forward this week as a second European bank, the Council of Europe Bank (CEB), backed the Limerick 2030 plan to rejuvenate the Opera site.
Now at planning stage, the project received €85m in European Investment bank funding last week and this week, the CEB matched that loan amount by pledging another €85m to fund the redevelopment.
With €170 million already secured, the Limerick 2030 plans for the Opera site are now fully funded by AAA and AA European bank loans.
In an interview with the Limerick Post (page 45), Limerick 2030 Chairman Denis Brosnan, said that the Opera Site design was a vision of what Limerick should become.
“Funding was the difficult bit but the effort will be worth it as some of the proposed structures will be seen as a beacon for the city,” he explained.
Former General Secretary of the Department of Finance, John Moran, said that this was a “renaissance” time for Limerick and he urged the public to have their say and support this regeneration.
In his role as an EIB board member, Mr Moran said that the bank is “supporting the creation of high-end top quality office accommodation” and the Opera Site is a starting point. The Limerick man shares his views on page 44.
Former Finance Minister Michael Noonan told the Limerick Post that it was a hugely exciting time to be in Limerick as it has become quite desirable for companies, both local and foreign, to do business here.
“It’s a great time to be in Limerick,” he declared.
On page 24, the former Finance Minister discusses how Limerick has come full circle over the past six years
