A PROMINENT Limerick City office block is set to be adapted for use as accommodation for refugees.
River House on Charlotte’s Quay in the city is the latest high-profile Limerick building set to be used for refugee accommodation.
The building’s owner, Tony O’Neill and Peppard Construction Ltd, gave a seven day notice to Limerick City and County Council notifying them of his intention to change the use of the building and giving notice of his intent to start works on the building.
Peppard Construction Ltd did not respond to requests for comment from the Limerick Post.
In normal circumstances, developers would have to apply to the local authority for planning permission to change the use of a building, however there are exemptions for the provision of emergency accommodation in disused commercial buildings.
River House had been occupied by the Revenue Commissioners until they relocated to Sarsfield House in 2022. It is understood that the building has been vacant since then.
It is not yet known how many people will be accommodated at River House, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, had not replied to a request for comment by the Limerick Post at the time of printing.
Elsewhere in Limerick, a unit on the Ballysimon Road is also set to be converted for refugee accommodation.
A warehouse unit which used to be home to Roadbridge building contractors is set to be converted to hold six ground floor residential units to house those seeking international protection.
The warehouse has been empty since Roadbridge closed down in 2022.
