5 March 2026, Limerick City: Limerick Chamber, the largest business organisation in the Mid-West, has welcomed the launch of An Garda Síochána’s High Visibility Policing (HVP) Plan for Limerick city centre, announced on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.
The Chamber said the plan is a practical and timely measure that will strengthen public reassurance, support local businesses, and enhance the day-to-day experience of living, working, studying and visiting in the city.
Speaking on behalf of Limerick Chamber, Seán Golden, Chief Economist and Director of Policy said:
Limerick Chamber welcomes this hugely positive news regarding the commencement of a dedicated High Visibility Policing Plan in Limerick city centre. This is a clear, operational response that will help build confidence for shoppers, workers, residents and visitors, and it supports the wider ambition for a thriving, safe and welcoming city centre.
Importantly, this outcome reflects continued, sustained engagement by the Chamber with key stakeholders, and consistent lobbying for boosted high-visibility policing – because visibility, responsiveness and predictability on the ground matter to footfall, to staff wellbeing, and to business investment decisions.
Over the past number of years, we have had extremely positive engagement with Gardaí in the Limerick division, as well as with the Minister for Justice, the Assistant Commissioner for the Southern Region and the Chief Superintendent for the Limerick Division and we thank them for their collaboration and support throughout.
The Chamber noted the plan’s focus on public order offences and persistent city-centre issues such as anti-social behaviour, drug dealing, persistent panhandling and shoplifting, describing this as “aligned with what businesses and the public have been reporting through regular feedback channels.”
Limerick Chamber emphasised that the plan’s impact will depend on sustained delivery and ongoing collaboration:
We look forward to continued structured engagement with An Garda Síochána and partners to ensure this plan is embedded, outcomes are tracked, and learnings are used to strengthen city-centre policing over time. A vibrant city centre requires visible safety and swift response alongside broader social and regeneration measures.
The Chamber also welcomed the analysis-led approach described by An Garda Síochána -based on calls for service, crime trends and community and business feedback – and said this should remain central to future decisions on resourcing and patrol deployment.
