IBEC - Newsroom - Limerick City expansion will stimulate economic activity

Monday, 10 May 2010

In its submission to the Limerick local government committee, IBEC Mid-West, the group that represents business in the region, has recommended expanding the Limerick City boundary to include areas currently in the administrative area of Limerick County Council. The group said that a strong, focused city authority must prioritise the redevelopment of Limerick city centre and other regeneration projects to drive economic activity in the region.

Chris O’Donovan, IBEC Mid-West regional director, said: “Limerick's future as a vibrant commercial centre, which can provide new business and employment opportunities over the coming years, must be fully supported by public policy. The needs of urban and rural Limerick are different, and as such, require different solutions. Simply merging Limerick City and County authorities or expanding the city within a unified authority are not appropriate solutions to the current problems: a city of scale needs to be created.

“The Limerick City Council boundary should be extended to encompass parts of the suburban areas surrounding the city that currently fall into the administrative area of Limerick County Council. Once extended Limerick City Council should remain a distinct entity in the local government system. The expansion should be cost-neutral to businesses, not requiring any rates increases for businesses currently within the county council boundary. Any re-balancing should be phased over an extended period of time.

“The new Limerick City authority should focus on redeveloping Limerick City centre in parallel with other vital regeneration projects in the city. This will require the update and implementation of the Limerick City Centre Strategy 2008, in consultation with the business community and other key stakeholders. Any rates paid by the business community in the urban and immediate suburban area of Limerick must go towards consolidating and renewing the enlarged Limerick City area.

“Finally, although we believe Limerick City and County authorities should remain distinct from each other, we believe that it is important to secure efficiencies in local government. The case for enhanced coordination and sharing of administrative functions between the City and County authorities is a compelling one that requires action,” concluded Mr O’Donovan.

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IBEC - Newsroom

Limerick City expansion will stimulate economic activity

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