LIMERICK is the “worst performing area in the country-and the serious decline in the city population is worrying”. So said city manager, Kieran Lehane, during a debate following the presentation of a draft report for the revitalisation of the city, with special emphasis on the centre. “Where did everyone go,” he pondered. “The schools are suffering because the population has so seriously declined, although it is rising in the county.
“Limerick city must have a a population of 100,000 people to restore its competitive advantage
“We need jobs in the city centre – there has been huge growth in the suburbs.
“€300,000 is a lot of money to pay the consultants for this report but we are looking for new ideas and proposals that can be worked on – we’ve had economic developments materialising on the edge of the city for 40 years”.
After hearing the presentation made by GVA Economic Consultants, Cllr Joe Leddin, commented:
“I have learnt nothing new – linking the colleges with employment, a waterfront strategy – I’ve heard all this before and my concern is that €300,000 would be spent on this report, when we already have a plethora of similar reports on the issue – I had thought it might contain more radical approaches to specific sites – there is no wow factor here and it is not worth paying €300,000 for, even though we would get two thirds from the government and Limerick County Council.
“My feeling is that based on the information we already have, we possess the professional expertise required in City Hall to bring forward something more dynamic without having to spend €300,000,
“I do agree, however with the need to develop new branding and a marketing strategy for the city”
In agreement with the sentiments expressed regarding the “disappointing lack of any new, radical recommendations in the presentation”, Mayor Jim Long, said he has “no issue backing it, as it was rejected by the county council on the basis that it would promote the city as the main driver for Limerick..
“The authors of the draft report have identified that the city has to be the economic driver – that the urban area should lead and from that point of view it’s worthwhile.,
“I wouldn’t like to see the city councillors knock this report – the county council rejected it for just one reason – that the city would be the driver . However, what we were presented with in the presentation in City Hall is not the final blueprint”.
