Her comments followed revelations by the chairman of the Mid West Task Force that its interim report has been ignored by Government.
"Minister O'Dea and Power should get off their backsides and start delivering for this city and the great Mid West region," the Limerick TD demanded.

Last week, Denis Brosnan said none of the 20 recommendations contained in the Task Force's interim report have been implemented by the Government, and added that the region "is in a bad state and declining fast".

"Limerick and the Mid West Region has been treated abysmally since this Government took office 12 years ago," Deputy O'Sullivan said. "Not one significant industry has been brought to the region and the promised €53 million Tourism plan to promote the region over a period of years delivered a paltry €6 million."

The silence and inaction by Government ministers is "absolutely shocking", according to the Labour TD, when there was such fan fare and publicity surrounding the establishment of the Task Force.

"We had the same fan fare when the Regeneration of Limerick was announced and again loud promises have fallen silent as the promised funding evaporates leaving people in these communities disillusioned and dismayed."

Tanaiste Mary Coughlan conceded that the situation was frustrating, but she said some of the recommendations had already been implemented, including the establishment of an independent committee to examine the issue of the Limerick city boundary.

The report also recommended that investment be targeted to create an international cargo hub at Shannon Airport.

Shannon Airport has always been a significant piece of infrastructure and catalyst for tourism and economic activity throughout the greater Mid West region for decades. Deputy O'Sullivan believes "that the Dublin Airport Authority are slowly strangling Shannon Airport and the board of the airport is effectively operating with one hand tied behind their backs in trying to develop and grow the airport".

Visitor numbers are continuing to decline at Shannon Airport and with Ryanair and Aer Lingus reducing flights this year, the numbers will continue to fall dramatically, she said.