LDA accused of neglecting development of Limerick site

A SPECIAL meeting of the local authority this Monday morning has heard accusations that the Land Development Agency (LDA) is putting projects in Limerick City and County "on the long finger."

These claims stem from questions put forward by members of council on whether or not the LDA were delaying the development of housing at the old Guinness site on Upper Carey's Road, part of the Colbert Quarter.

With 12,259 people named as homeless in Ireland, Cllr Joe Leddin dubbed the LDA as a "quango", as he queries the delays on sites which are "primed for development."

Councillor Conor Sheehan proposed the possibility of the local authority reclaiming the land from the LDA, worrying that the site in Colbert could amount to "little more than a glossy brochure" left to "rot and fester."

Director of Housing with Limerick City and County Council, Caroline Curley responded to these statements by clarifying that the local authority has not transferred any land to the LDA. She reiterated that according to the law, the LDA must be offered the opportunity to purchase land intended for disposal.

Regarding the slowdown in the plans for apartments at Colbert, she acknowledged the LDA is not the sole cause of the delay, as other factors like the nearby railway line and compliance with regulations also contribute. She estimated that the site should have some units available by 2026.

In regards to Colbert, Ms Curley said that the plans for apartments have "slowed down" due to the need for integration with the LDA plans.

She added that the LDA is not the only delay with seeing the progression of the apartments. She claimed that other considerations such as standards, and compliance with regulations mean the development will "take time," adding the site should see "some units by 2026."

In a statement made by Cllr Elena Secas, she noted that upon asking a member of the LDA about the delay with the project, they cited their involvement in significant projects in Dublin and Cork as the reason for their inability to deliver on all projects simultaneously.

Of this response, Cllr Secas said: "They put Limerick on the long finger because they were too busy delivering other projects in other cities."

Ms Curley responded, "they are juggling a lot of projects, no more than ourselves." She added that the LDA has assured the council of their commitment to Limerick, with involvement in other county projects.