A LIMERICK Fine Gael councillor has called for increased external oversight into University of Limerick (UL) following the university’s latest spending controversy.
Former mayor Daniel Butler called for the measures saying that the university has become “too insular” and needs an overview of its governance procedures.
This comes as UL has said it is expecting a €700,000 deficit in itsannual accounts, due to the university’s overspend on a 20-unit housing development in Rhebogue, when a €7.5million profit had previously been touted.
In a statement to the Limerick Post, Cllr Butler said that Limerick’s directly-elected mayor should have responsibility for oversight at UL.
“I really believe that the organisation has become too insular and needs a serious review specifically at governance level,” Cllr Butler said.
“In fact I would suggest that the new directly elected mayor should hold a key role in this regard, as UL is far too important to Limerick and indeed the Mid West region.”
Cllr Butler continued that calling for UL President Professor Kerstin Mey’s resignation “will not achieve what is needed” in the university, stating that a more “radical” approach is needed.
“Calling for the president’s resignation will not achieve what is needed, it has not changed since the previous president resigned. This needs to be far more radical in terms of the organisation as a whole.”
When asked for comment, the university did not respond to the assertions made by the councillor.
