Development plan for Limerick ‘could deliver 5,000 jobs’

Details of an ambitious €250 million plan set to transform Limerick’s economy over the next two decades has been unveiled.

'Limerick 2030 – An Economic and Spatial Plan for Limerick' was unveiled today by Minister from the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan and Minister of State for Housing and Planning Jan O'Sullivan.

It has the potential to deliver 5,000 new jobs and sets out a number of objectives to change the infrastructure of the city centre and deliver a whole new vision for Limerick as a leading centre for commercial investment.

Speaking at the launch, Limerick City and County Councils chief executive Conn Murray described Limerick 2030 as “a once in a generation plan to guide the economic, social and physical renaissance of Limerick city centre, the wider county and mid-west region”.

“The plan will allow us to work together to bring much needed investment to Limerick, to revitalise the city centre and to project a positive image giving confidence to investors, businesses and the local community,” he said.

“It is by design a flexible, dynamic framework capable of responding to changing circumstances and providing, perhaps for the first time, a holistic perspective on Limerick’s future. And it’s timely, as we move towards the full merger of Limerick City and County Councils in 2014,” he said.

The Limerick 2030 plan is structured around three main elements; an economic strategy, a spatial strategy and a marketing plan.

In addition to the launch of the Limerick 2030 plan, a charter of convergence and cohesion was also signed today by the heads of the principal agencies in the mid west region.

This charter, reminiscent of the original Charter of Limerick signed in 1197, sets out a series of commitments which at the centre contains a resolution to working in a collaborative way for the benefit of Limerick.

The signatories to the new charter are manager and chief executive of Limerick City and County Councils Conn Murray; president of the University of Limerick Prof Don Barry; president of Limerick Institute of Technology Dr Maria Hinfelaar; president of Mary Immaculate College Prof Michael Hayes; chief executive of Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership Liam McElligott; Chairperson of Shannon Airport Authority Rose Hynes; chief executive of Shannon Foynes Port Company Patrick Keating and chief executive of Limerick Chamber Maria Kelly.