ROAD and public transport connectivity to Shannon Airport and Cork are among the issues which government must tackle to support local economic activity, business owners in Limerick have been told.
Ibec, the group that represents Irish business, says that in the face of pressing inflationary challenges, there must be greater focus from Government on enhancing quality-of-life and addressing sustainability issues if the Mid-West region is to develop as an area of national and international significance and stimulate long-term economic growth.
The call came at an event hosted by Ibec as part of its Regional Insights Series in Adare last week.
Chief executive Danny McCoy said that Ibec’s vision for the Mid-West and Kerry is to realise its potential in becoming a globally competitive location to attract investment from the world’s leading companies and become a magnet for top talent both from within Ireland and overseas.
“However, decades of underinvestment means that a range of challenges in crucial areas like housing, education, transport, and inter-regional connectivity need to be addressed if the region is to realise its full potential.
“People decide where to live based on quality of life and access to high quality services and amenities. Industry tends to follow talent and, in this regard, the region needs to have all the building blocks in place to attract talent, as the attraction and retention of world-class talent becomes increasingly competitive on a global level.
“Crucially, these challenges also must be addressed in a way that balances economic, environmental, social and governance goals. Ibec wants to work with all stakeholders to build sustainable competitive advantages for the region and drive positive economic and societal impact. Achieving that vision will be important not only for the region but also for the continued growth and success of the national economy.
Among the necessary projects which will support this are the enabling of key transport projects in the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area, including BusConnects, delivering multi-modal usage and smart mobility, servicing Shannon Airport and strategic residential, higher education and employment growth location, he said.
IBEC also wants Government to prioritise strategic road projects, including the N/M20 to Cork and connectivity to Shannon Foynes Port and Shannon Airport.
