A former sweet factory is destined to add new vibrancy to Limerick city centre, it emerged yesterday.

Former department of finance secretary general John Moran has questioned the Government’s capital spending plans and suggested more should be done to counter-balance Dublin’s position as the country’s main economic driver.

Limerick is destined to become the country’s most advanced city, but it must keep “the shoulder to the wheel” to get there, former Kerry Group chief Denis Brosnan said yesterday.

The biggest 10-year real estate project in a city centre, outside of Dublin, was given the go-ahead in Limerick yesterday.