A TENDERING process to appoint a new contractor to finish the County Library project in Ennis has been announced by Clare County Council. This comes following the appointment by the High Court of an examiner to Kilmihil-based development company L&M Keating Limited.
Since July no building work has been carried out at the site of the planned new library adjacent to glór. Construction works begun back in January and the project had initially been due for completion next year, however that date was pushed out to 2022 when construction nationally was affected by Covid-19.
According to a statement released this week by the local authority, “Clare County Council will shortly commence a tendering process to appoint a new contractor to the County Library project. The decision comes following the appointment by the High Court last week of an examiner to L&M Keating Limited. At this juncture we do not have a timeline for the appointment of a completion contractor.”
A statement on the Keating Construction website described the entry into voluntary examinership as “a positive step for the future sustainability of the company.”
“Keating Construction is working to achieve our long-term strategic aim to be a leading marine engineering company in Europe and the UK. The impact of Covid-19, Brexit and the current trading environment has been challenging in recent months. In this context, the company had no other choice but to take steps to ensure our long-term ambitions, protect jobs and achieve the best outcome for current creditors.
“In court, after hearing the support from a number of our creditors, the judge confirmed our entry into voluntary examinership – a positive step for the future sustainability of the company. This will allow us to seek the investment needed for the restructuring necessary to achieve our goals.
“Over the coming weeks, our senior management team will be working with the appointed examiner to secure the future of the company and our employees. We intend to emerge from this process as a stronger company ready to avail of the significant opportunities for the type of work we do – delivering complex engineering projects – in the growing marketplace in the UK and across northern Europe.”
The completed County Library project is due to feature a new library, library service headquarters, local studies centre and an exhibition space.