Mid-west business groups say Limerick boundary extension vital

THE three main business organisations in the mid-west region, Limerick Chamber, IBEC, and the American Chamber of Commerce, yesterday called for an extension of the boundary of Limerick city.

Their submission will now be sent to the Government committee set up under former Kerry Group boss, Denis Brosnan, which is preparing a report on the Limerick city boundary.

The three organisations, in a joint statement, said they agree that the primary focus of any changes to local government structure in Limerick must ensure that the status of Limerick city is reinforced to deliver future growth and development throughout the region.

The statement added: “To successfully achieve this, Limerick city must have scale with a population of 100,000 people, and this they believe can be achieved most efficiently through a boundary extension.”

The business leaders also maintain that the core of Limerick city is under-performing and the city has not reached its economic, business, social and cultural potential.

The statement continued: “We are calling for the city centre core to be zoned as a Strategic Development Zone, or similar incentive that will act as a much needed catalyst for investment and address the serious imbalance that currently exits between the city and its immediate hinterland.”

Limerick Chamber president Kieran MacSweeney said Limerick must become a key driver for economic growth and employment in the region.

IBEC mid-west president, Dr Maria Hinfelaar, said: “We compete with regions throughout Europe for US Foreign Direct Investment and all of these regions have a common trait; they are powered by strong, vibrant cities such as Copenhagen, Barcelona, Munich, etc. To be truly competitive as a region it is vitally important Limerick develops to its full potential”.

The Brosnan committee is expected to report to the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley within eight weeks.