OPW announces Government commitment to proceed with Limerick Opera Centre

Ministers Chambers and Moran have secured Government approval to proceed with the development of a 14-storey landmark building in Limerick, as part of the wider urban regeneration project for the city centre.

This flagship office building will form part of the Opera Centre, a project designed to transform Limerick city centre.

The four-acre Opera site will include commercial buildings, apartment living space, a new central library, a hotel, retail space and a public plaza.

The OPW is working in partnership with the Opera Centre project leads, ‘Limerick Twenty Thirty’ to develop the new Government offices at the site.

‘Limerick Twenty Thirty’ is a company established by Limerick city and county councils to develop strategic sites in Limerick city and county.

Once complete, the building will accommodate approximately 900 workspaces and up to 1,500 public servants in a hybrid working environment.

Welcoming the news, Minister of State for the OPW, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, TD, said:

“This state of the art building will provide value for money, allowing the OPW to vacate poorer quality buildings and enhance our owned property portfolio. We will be consolidating a number of Government Departments into one central location while at the same time contributing to the revitalisation of Limerick city centre.

The OPW is looking forward to working closely with ‘Limerick Twenty Thirty’ to develop this ultra- modern, sustainable office accommodation which will set a new standard in commercial office space.

I’m delighted that the project, as part of this urban regeneration scheme, aligns with Government policy objectives such as sustainability, economic growth and social inclusion.”

Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Jack Chambers, TD, said:

“I am pleased to have secured Government approval to progress this important project. Today is a good day for the mid-west region with confirmation that this central part of Limerick city’s regeneration plan will now proceed.

The new property will address a range of office accommodation requirements for public servants in Limerick and is a critical investment in the future of Limerick City and indeed the broader region.

It also demonstrates our commitment as a Government to urban regeneration, public sector modernisation and sustainability while at the same time providing long-term operational efficiencies and economic benefits.”

The development also supports national and regional policy objectives including Project Ireland 2040, the National Development Plan (NDP), and Limerick 2030.

The flagship building is expected to be completed and ready for occupation in 2029.

For more information or to arrange an interview opportunity with an OPW spokesperson, please contact pressoffice@opw.ie.

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Notes

• The Opera Government offices development is the anchor project of the wider Limerick 2030 Economic and Spatial Plan.
• The Plan is designed to drive the socio-economic redevelopment of Limerick and counter the poor economic performance of the city.
• The Plan targets the creation of 12,000 new jobs (5,000 of which will be in the city centre) enabled by the regeneration of key strategic sites and dynamic socio-economic programming.