Limerick's future development ‘is built on new rail stops’

THE FUTURE development of Limerick city must be based around the development of new suburban rail stations, Mayor John Moran has said.

He made the comments as he unveiled his five-year programme of office, which has been tweaked following feedback from councillors.

“The idea is there will be a train network which reaches out to Foynes, stopping in Patrickswell and other areas like the hospital. It will eventually also include Mungret and Dooradoyle and connect to the intercity train station, and include new stops at Ballysimon, Parkway, Corbally, Moyross and Cratloe, where it will link to Shannon Airport,” the mayor said.

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He will be pushing the government to “confirm” this as a way for the city to develop, and said this will inform where development should happen.

“It’s key to all the decisions we make. It dictates where we look to water connections, it dictates where we look to land that should be developed,” Mayor Moran told councillors at a special meeting on Friday.

His blueprint for Limerick’s future has divided the city into four distinct areas which will be designed as “15 minute neighbourhoods”.

This refers to a planning concept in which most daily necessities and services can easily be reached by a 15 minute walk, bike ride, or public transit ride.

Areas identified are the northside, Castletroy, Raheen-Dooradoyle and the city centre.

Mayor Moran acknowledged the latter presents the most “significant” challenge.

“The fundamental point is to try and make our city some place where people want to live as opposed to just come and visit.

We need to put people first in this area and have a housing stock added to our city which is attractive for people to live in,” he said.

Mayor Moran faced criticism for not including affordable purchase homes in his five-year plan.

Priomh Chomhairleoir Dan McSweeney backed concerns on this from his Fine Gael colleague, Cllr Sarah Kiely.

The 26-year-old Patrickswell man said: “It’s a glaring omission. I would really like to think the mayor would be going fighting to government to deliver affordable housing. Houses for my generation.”

Mayor Moran said he was disappointed to not get a special block of funding in the national budget to use for Limerick-only projects.

Independent councillor Maria Donoghue said there’s “no evidence” government has acted in Limerick’s best interests.

She called for unity around Mayor Moran’s plan, adding: “If we are going to fight over operational issues, we are on a hiding to nothing. We must pull together.”