Limerick Chamber warns Mid-West growth at risk without infrastructure delivery
Business group says housing, transport and public services must be backed by investment and accountability if the region is to meet future demand
08 June 2026 | đŸ“§Â editor@ipropertyradio.com
Limerick Chamber has warned that the Mid-West’s future growth could be constrained unless major infrastructure projects are delivered alongside plans for housing, transport and economic development.
In a submission to the Southern Regional Assembly’s consultation on the next Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) and Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (LSMASP), the Chamber is calling for a stronger focus on delivery, investment and accountability rather than what it describes as another high-level strategy with ambitious targets but limited implementation.
The Chamber argues that the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area, which includes Limerick City, Shannon and surrounding communities, has the population, employment base and strategic assets needed to play a much larger role in Ireland’s future growth. However, it says that potential is being held back by delays in key infrastructure projects.
According to the submission, residents and businesses continue to experience the effects of delays in housing-enabling infrastructure, transport projects, wastewater treatment facilities, electricity grid upgrades, renewable energy developments and city-centre regeneration schemes.
The Chamber is seeking a prioritised investment programme covering housing, transport, water services, healthcare, education, energy infrastructure, ports and aviation. It says clear timelines, identified delivery agencies and annual progress reporting should be included in future regional plans.
For local residents, housing remains one of the most pressing concerns. The Chamber says a shortage of homes is affecting the ability of employers to attract and retain staff while also limiting opportunities for people seeking to live and work in the region.
Among its recommendations are serviced-land audits, measures to bring brownfield sites into use, stronger support for apartment development and targeted programmes to increase housing delivery within existing urban areas.
Transport is another major focus. The submission calls for faster progress on a number of long-discussed projects including BusConnects Limerick, new rail stations at Moyross and Ballysimon, regeneration of Colbert Station, the reopening of the Limerick-Foynes rail line and improved access to Shannon Airport.
The Chamber also highlights the importance of road projects including the Cork-Limerick M20 and upgrades to the N21 and N69 routes, arguing that better connectivity is essential for commuters, businesses and regional development.
Chief Executive of Limerick Chamber, Donnacha Hurley, said the region cannot afford another strategy that sets ambitious targets without providing the funding and delivery structures needed to achieve them.
He said that assets such as Shannon Airport, Shannon Foynes Port, the Shannon Estuary, Limerick City and the region’s universities should be recognised as national economic drivers rather than simply regional assets.
The submission also identifies significant opportunities linked to renewable energy and industrial decarbonisation. Limerick Chamber is proposing the creation of a Strategic Energy & Renewables Accelerator Ireland (SERAI), which would help coordinate planning, infrastructure and investment around offshore wind, green hydrogen and clean industry opportunities centred on the Shannon Estuary.
The Chamber believes the estuary could become a major European energy hub, supporting new jobs, energy security and industrial investment, provided the necessary infrastructure and policy support are put in place.
Additional recommendations include stronger support for Shannon Town’s development, greater investment in Limerick City Centre, improved promotion of Shannon Airport as an international gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way and the creation of a more integrated economic zone linking Limerick and Shannon.
The Southern Regional Assembly is currently reviewing the framework that will help guide development, investment and infrastructure priorities across the region over the coming years. Limerick Chamber says the revised strategy must place delivery at its core if the Mid-West is to realise its full potential and meet the needs of current and future residents.
