Investigation may decide if Limerick tax office building stays or goes

COUNCIL bosses have commissioned a series of studies into Sarsfield House at Arthur’s Quay in a bid to establish whether it should be retained or knocked.

Staff from the Revenue currently occupy the imposing building, but its long-term future is unclear, given they will move to new offices at nearby Opera Square in the coming years.

Council is developing a masterplan for when this happens, and as of yet, it’s unclear whether Sarsfield House will stay or go.

At this month’s metropolitan meeting, transport director Patricia Liddy confirmed the local authority had commissioned two assessments which will help inform its blueprint for the riverside area.

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Olive Downes, council’s senior executive engineer added the studies - due to be completed next month - “will allow us to make an informed judgement and proposals in relation to what can happen with the building.”

A number of councillors questioned how the authority is able to do this, given the building is owned by the Office of Public Works (OPW), and not council.

Ms Downes referenced a consultation on the future of Arthur’s Quay, saying a lot of talk was on the future of Sarsfield House.

“But we didn’t have the information on the building and whether it would be feasible to maintain it for residential, its costs and what the different options are. And that is the purpose of the study that is being commissioned now.”

Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan cautioned against raising people’s hopes, and Cllr Joe Leddin, Labour, asked if the OPW’s views had been sought.

Cllr Ursula Gavan, Independent, called for the building to be retained, but Fine Gael councillor Peter Doyle said: “I would love to see the end of Sarsfield House”.