Why invest in public and active transport? I believe that transport is a force multiplier for society. Transport connects us, it helps us access employment opportunities and it connects communities. We need transport to access healthcare, to visit friends, to interview for a new job, to do anything outside our home. I am passionate about …
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Retail in the City
Any discussion on the fortunes of retail in Limerick merits some context. In the last five decades Limerick has allowed itself to sprawl outwards by permitting the construction of large suburban residential areas, such as Castletroy, Annacotty, Caherdavin, Moyross, Westbury, Southill and Raheen. A number of large institutions, such as the university and the hospital …
East Limerick Greenway
I was happy to receive broad support for my motion asking for Limerick City & County Council to develop a greenway from the city towards Cahir in Tipperary. The idea is that this would link up with the Suir Blueway, which runs from Cahir to Carrick-on-Suir. The “East Limerick Greenway” would play a major part …
Affordable Purchase Scheme
This scheme applies to ‘affordable’ homes built on publicly owned, i.e. Council lands. It is designed to appeal to low and middle income households. Single applicants or couples can apply to purchase one of these and if successful the local authority will provide 40% of the purchase cost. It’s obviously quite an attractive offer, so …
Moneypoint
Combustion of coal at Moneypoint is to end by 2025. From an emissions point of view, this is to be welcomed, and by right it should be happening sooner. However, while the station has been a massive contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, it has also significantly contributed to our power generation needs and the economy …
Lyric FM
Much of the discussion nationally around this issue has been about the crisis that RTÉ finds itself in. However, what is not being discussed in the national conversation to date is the impact the proposed closure of the Lyric studio will have on the city of Limerick and the Midwest region. Lyric FM is an …
Budget 2020
Thank you to Director Seán Coughlan and his team for preparing the Limerick Council budget for 2020. There is a huge amount that is positive in it with increased spending in many areas that require it. Councillor John Sheehan referenced climate change in his remarks. It is the most serious issue facing humanity. It is …
Time to allocate 10% of Limerick’s transport funding to cycling
The following text is a speech I gave at the Travel & Transport Strategic Policy Committee meeting, in support of a motion I had raised that 10% of the transport budget in Limerick should go towards cycling. The motion passed unanimously and goes forward now to full Council in November. This motion is not simply …
Continue reading “Time to allocate 10% of Limerick’s transport funding to cycling”
Urban Design & Planning
At today’s Metropolitan Council Meeting I called for Limerick to employ an urban designer (in house) for professional input into all capital projects. The reason for submitting this motion is that there is a gap at a high level in the Council at the moment, and very important decisions regarding the future of our city …
Shannon LNG
PRESS RELEASE:Shannon LNG driving damaging fracking industry abroadSpeaking today Green Party Energy spokesperson Brian Leddin said: “Just two weeks after the Global Climate strike highlighted the urgency of transforming our energy system and reducing global carbon emissions the government is determined to continue with new fossil fuel infrastructure on the Shannon estuary, driving international demand. Government plans to have the project, …