Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State and I welcome him and his team to the committee this evening. I will put a few quick questions to him. The Minister, Deputy Harris, made a very positive announcement a few days ago about grasping the whole issue of third level accommodation. There is a university that is very well known to the Minister of State and me because we are not living too far apart. As one approaches the University of Limerick, and the Minister of State would be aware of these areas, there is a Travelodge building on the Groody roundabout, with the Aldi store. The top five levels of the Travelodge building have been vacant for the past ten years or so.

I do not expect answers here because I have thrown the Minister of State a few curveballs. Could he and his departmental officials speak with the University of Limerick to see if it can activate this? It is obvious that this building, which is so close to the campus, could be turned into student accommodation. The four levels below it are all hotel rooms, day in, day out. Could someone take note of that and maybe speak with Professor Kerstin May and the University of Limerick? The initiative that the Minister of State announced is wonderful, but sometimes it can help if there is a nudge from on high as well as from down low. Will the Minister of State pursue that?