Limerick will stagnate without single local authority, business group claims
Limerick City Council has come out strongly against a recommendation in the report to abolish Limerick city and county councils and replace them with one authority.
Mr Brosnan has also recommended the extension of the city boundary in his report, Renewing Local Government in Limerick.
Limerick Chamber of Commerce president Kieran MacSweeney said implementation of the Brosnan report presented a unique opportunity for both the city and the mid-west region.
Mr MacSweeney also said if all groups and organisations put the best interests of the city and region before their own personal and political preferences, consensus will be achieved for the greater good of both.
Mr MacSweeney was speaking at the launch of the chamber’s Strong Region & Strong City campaign.
Mr MacSweeney said there can be no argument for not implementing Mr Brosnan’s report, given the Government in recent days suggests the report will either be implemented in its entirety or the status quo will be retained.
“The strong view of business across Limerick, and one that is very much being volunteered through our online petition, is that not alone should the recommendations be implemented for the greater good of the city but for the entire region.
“The facts are undeniable; these recommendations will deliver a city of scale of 100,000 population and multi-million euro savings to be reinvested back in the region.
“The latest indications from Government are that the report will be either implemented in full or not at all. The prospect of the status quo being retained here in Limerick is unthinkable.
“It would further deepen our economic decline, leave the city trailing other urban centres nationally in terms of job creation potential and, ultimately, set us back decades.
“We accept there are deep sensitivities and loyalties involved but we emphasise that this is not about Limerick city consuming Limerick county and a small portion of Clare. This is about bringing us all together and creating a local/regional economy of scale so that the mid-west can benefit from having a vibrant city at its engine room.”
