Mid-West report - We ignore proposals at our peril

LAST February Environment Minister John Gormley asked businessman Denis Brosnan to chair the Limerick Local Government Committee to consider how local government might best serve the needs of the Mid-West.

Mr Brosnan and his committee, none of whom were paid for their efforts, were asked to suggest how local government structures might be reconfigured to try to rejuvenate a region devastated by job losses, stagnation and understandable pessimism.

Mr Gormley probably did not anticipate sugar-coated generalities when he approached Mr Brosnan – just as well, as he did not get them.