MAYOR John Moran this past week introduced the setting up of the first of a suite of expert groups aimed at addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing Limerick.
These groups, co-led by elected councillors appointed by the Mayor, will bring together experts from different fields to develop specific actionable tasks for Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) over the coming years.
The first three groups will focus on homelessness and drug addiction, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the development of public parks.
Mayor Moran appointed councillors to co-chair each of these groups. According to a statement from the Council, the appointed Councillors will play a key role in assisting the Mayor to bring together stakeholders, industry experts, and community representatives to ensure that each area address practical and actionable solutions.
Cllr Sarah Beasley of Aontú will co-chair a group dedicated tackling homelessness and drug addiction in Limerick. Her team will focus on specific short-term actions which can be taken on the road to comprehensive solutions for those faced with homelessness and addiction.
Fine Gael councillor Peter Doyle will lead the SME Task Force, responsible for actions to support indigenous businesses and building a five-year SME Action Plan.
Green Party councillor Sean Hartigan will lead a group focused on a masterplan for heritage sites and public nature parks.
Mayor Moran said of the newly-appointed teams that he was “delighted to be able to continue to push the boat out and use the innovation of the new Mayoral role to transform how government works in Limerick”.
“These groups will play an important role in producing specific practical policy actions for me which can be prioritised over the course of the mayoral programme in specific focus areas to shape the future of Limerick.”
Members of the public, especially those working in Limerick’s third level sector and NGOs, who would like to be involved in groups are invited to contact [email protected].
Each of the groups is expected to deliver their initial recommendations within the next six months, with updates to the public as they progress.
