Chamber urges Limerick City and County Council and University of Limerick to fast-track engagements on city centre campus development

Wednesday 16 February 2022:  Limerick Chamber has today urged University of Limerick to bring forward its vision for its city centre campus on Sarsfield street at the earliest opportunity, and for Limerick City and Council to fast-track master-planning for the World Class Waterfront programme at Arthur’s Quay.

 

Responding to UL President Kerstin Mey’s interview on Live95FM today, Limerick Chamber CEO Dee Ryan said “Our universities are drivers of investment into Limerick and the wider Mid-West region and the business community supports UL’s plans for expansion of academic and research activities. We note UL’s commitment to deepen its investment in its city centre campus which we hope to see advanced at the earliest opportunity and look forward to UL’s vision for its campus development at the key site in the World-Cass Waterfront project at Arthur’s Quay.

 

“Some €73m in state funding has been pledged for waterfront development in the city and I would urge that UL and Limerick City and County Council, as well as other stakeholders, work collaboratively and quickly to ensure we get master-planning completed and the project underway as soon as possible.  We need to approach the waterfront project in a holistic way and UL’s city centre investment plans are a central component of it.”

 

Ms Ryan added: “The Chamber notes the university’s plans for the SDZ. We also acknowledge its stated intention to concentrate energies on plans for the former Dunnes Stores property, which has the potential to be transformed from a city centre eye-sore into one of the ‘jewels in the crown’ of the waterfront , ensuring it achieves its potential to significantly contribute  to the attractiveness of Limerick as a place to live, work and visit.”

 

Reacting to concerns about access to the proposed SDZ, she continued “Limerick Chamber believes plans for the University of Limerick’s expansion on its Clare side must be supported by the necessary infrastructure including the Limerick Northern Distributor Road, in order to avoid further congestion at the Technological Park in Castletroy. We welcome the two-year consultation process that would accompany an SDZ designation. This will afford all of us passionate about making the best possible future for the city and region the opportunity to ensure we get all these parts right.”

 

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