The economic and social challenges facing Limerick were today brought to the fore in Thomond Park where local and regional development authorities considered details of the first ever locally produced economic action plan for Limerick City and County.It is expected the three-year programme, which is being developed as a local response to the Mid West Task Force Report, will be finalised by the end of November.
The programme will set out specific targets agreed at today’s meeting including encouraging local job creation, supporting stronger links between the research activities of the third level institutions and the business sector, support for rural regeneration and, in particular, working to take advantage of the energy sector including renewable energy and the development of the SMARTGrid. In addition, the underpinning of a strong urban core for the region and the need to position local business to take advantage of the likely opportunities arising from the urban regeneration process in the city will be developed.
Today’s symposium was hosted by the newly established Joint Limerick City and County Economic Development Committee, an initiative of the Limerick City and County Development Boards, and featured contributions from organisations including IDA Ireland, FAS, Enterprise Ireland, Shannon Development, Shannon Airport Authority, Mid West Regional Authority, Tourism Ireland and the University of Limerick.
Commenting on the importance of producing a joint economic implementation action plan for Limerick City and County, Dr. Vincent Cunnane, CEO of Shannon Development and Chairperson of the Joint Limerick City & County Economic Development Committee said: “The aim of today’s event was to map what road needs to be followed, what choices we need to make in terms of education, energy, public services and investment opportunities in order to revive and rejuvenate the Limerick area and hopefully make it the envy of the country.”
“It is evident from the publication of the Interim Report of the Mid-West Task Force just how great the challenges are going to be for the entire region and, in particular, Limerick City and County. However, it is clear from the quality and profile of participants in today’s symposium that we have the expertise in Limerick to map that road, meet those challenges and face the future with confidence”, Dr. Cunnane stated.
“The Joint Limerick City & County Economic Development Committee, an initiative of the Limerick City and County Development Boards, proposes that an opportunity be afforded to the Government and Development sectors, State Agencies and business people locally to think ahead, and to look at future opportunities for the economy in the Limerick area.
“By producing and implementing an economic action programme for Limerick City and County we hope to meet the twin challenges of unemployment and regional competitiveness; and to plan for education and re-training/up-skilling our communities so that the City and County are positioned to take full advantage of Ireland’s Smart Economy”, Dr. Cunnane added.
Today’s symposium featured panel discussions on a range of themes including Renewable Energy – The Opportunities, Tourism in Challenging Times, Economic Infrastructure to Support Business, Education and Training for Business Growth, and Targeting Key Enterprise Investments and the Development of Enterprise. Over one hundred of the mid west region’s key decision makers also participated in workshops on economic development, tourism, energy, enterprise development, and education and training.
Among the other organisations represented at the event were Limerick Chamber of Commerce, Kostal, Vistakon, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick Institute of Technology, Regional Design Office, Eirgrid; Teagasc; Meet Limerick Shannon, Irish Hotels Federation; Limerick Co-ordination Office; National Centre for Tourism Policy Studies, AIB, Bank of Ireland, Limerick/Clare Energy Agency, NUI Galway, Sustainable Energy Ireland, Limerick County VEC, West Limerick Resources, Limerick County and City Enterprise Boards, and Limerick City and County Councils.
The Mid-West Task Force was established earlier this year by An Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, TD, to consider and make recommendations concerning the implications of the serious economic downturn in the Mid-West on the Socio-Economic fabric of the Region, exacerbated by the announcement of Dell to cease manufacturing in Limerick. The Task Force is presently focusing on the development of key themes and related issues identified during the work on the Interim Report. It is anticipated that these themes which will lead to a blueprint for the development of the Mid-West Region.
