Press release 2^nd October 2015

Chamber welcomes announcement that Foynes-Limerick Road and Adare By-Pass will progress, but expresses disappointment at lack of ambition in plan

This week government launched their €42 billion national ‘Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021’ plan. With infrastructural deficits increasing hampering Ireland’s economic capacities – be it housing, transport, education or health – reflecting the fact that Ireland has one of the lowest spends on infrastructure in the EU, there is no doubt of the need for a capital investment plan. However, Limerick Chamber CEO, Dr. James Ring, explains why the business representative body have extended a cautious welcome to it.

“We welcome the announcement that the Foynes-Limerick road will progress, connecting one of Ireland’s three tier-one ports to the national road network. While activity at Shannon Foynes Port is in its own right a contributor to the economic heartbeat of the region, improved road connectivity between Foynes and Limerick will significantly support increased business activity throughout the region and beyond. Similarly, the announcement that the Adare by-pass will be progressed, an overdue critical piece of infrastructure which will remove what is the greatest bottleneck connecting the east to the west of the country, will have a hugely positive impact for the region.

However, as a city-region capital of the Western seaboard, the fact that this plan does nothing to signal governments’ commitment to interurban connectivity reflects where thinking currently is. The road connecting Limerick and Cork, Ireland’s two largest urban centres outside the Dublin, requires immediate attention to facilitate business potential and regional growth, and there is not even an mention of it in this plan.

“Ireland has suffered from underinvestment in our infrastructure for decades. This is particularly acute across the regions. This six-year investment programme merely serves to meet immediate needs and lacks ambition in meeting the future needs of our growing economy” concluded Dr. Ring.

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