COUNCILLORS have called for Limerick’s planning, environment and roads departments to be retained at County Hall in Dooradoyle and described the relocation of local authority offices to Patrick Street as unnecessary.
At this week’s County Council meeting, councillors voiced their support for a motion to retain the three departments in the one building to facilitate the public with planning.
Cllr Leo Walsh (FG) said it made more sense for public representative when dealing with planning issues if the planning, environment and roads departments were under the same roof. He told council members that he believes these three departments are at the “crux of planning” and too much time will be wasted travelling between County Hall, the new offices on Patrick Street and City Hall.
“People are frustrated enough and they will have to drive into the city and have to find parking when they want to deal with planning issues,” said Cllr Walsh.
“We have made cock-ups with Irish Water and City of Culture. We don’t want another cock-up. Morale is already very low among Council staff and planning issues should be dealt with in the one building,” he added.
Cllr Mary Jackman (FG) claimed the Council were obsessed with having everything in the city and reminded council management that they also had an obligation to serve the people of the county.
“The city centre is not the centre of the world. It breaks my heart that we can’t keep these services in County Hall, which is a magnificent building. It is more practical to keep these departments here where there is easy access and free parking next door in the Crescent Shopping Centre,” said Cllr Jackman.
Cllr Eddie Wade (FF) told council members that it was “a bit late” to be having this conversation. He suggested that Fine Gael councillors should have used their influence at ministerial level on this issue much sooner.
“You fell asleep and forgot to make representation,” Cllr Wade told Fine Gael and Labour councillors.
Cllr Stephen Keary (FG) said the people of County Limerick were “sold a pup” again.
“I always had reservations about the amalgamation of the two authorities. It is a boundary extension by another name,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cllr Eddie Ryan (FF) said he was able to deal with all planning issues in his local area office and could not see what the problem was.
Director of economic development and planning, Oliver O’Loughlin, said the move was part of a broader economic strategy to have all departments working closely together to achieve the best for Limerick.
