The Mayor of Limerick City and County, Cllr Michael Collins has called for ‘urgent clarification’ from Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD on the future delivery of the Coonagh-Knockalisheen Road in Limerick. Mayor Collins said the local community in Moyross is ‘frustrated and angry’ at the impasse over the future of the project which is a key part of the Limerick Regeneration Framework implementation plan.
Calling on Minister Ryan to clarify why there is a delay in signing off on the road completion since last October, the Mayor said;
“This is not just about a road, this is a project which represents everything that Regeneration is designed to do and on track to deliver for the Moyross area, from facilitating inward investment to leading to a more sustainable social environment for the northside of the city,” he said.
“The Coonagh-Knockalisheen connection is critical to the overall delivery and completion of the Regeneration programme being delivered by Limerick City and County Council and its delivery is hugely important to the people of Moyross who have felt let down a lot in the past with broken promises. Limerick City and County Council is committed to delivering on this important piece of transport infrastructure and opening up access into and out of this community and attracting new employers into the area. Since the beginning of the regeneration plan for Limerick, a road between Coonagh and Knockalisheen was identified as crucial in unlocking the potential for the northside of the city, including linking Moyross to the new LIT educational campus at Coonagh, and we are 100% committed to its delivery.”
The Mayor pointed out that €19 million of the overall projected budget of €58 million had been spent to-date with approximately one third of the overall project is complete in terms of expenditure and detailed CPO and planning permissions already in place. Following a detailed tender process, he said Limerick City and County Council is ready to appoint a contractor to go on site, subject to public health guidelines, bringing much needed employment also to the area.
The Mayor added: “The provision of rail lines and stops through Moyross, as mentioned by the Minister, is something that we in the local authority will support. We will work with the relevant stakeholders as and when detailed plans are brought forward. But while future plans are welcome, the completion of existing plans is the most important action we can take now. Limerick cannot sustain any further delays to this project.
"I’m seeking urgent and immediate clarification from the Minister around delays to this project delivery as the programme for Government clearly states that all commitments regarding previously approved projects are to be honoured, and therefore should be progressed. We will do everything in our power to move forward with its delivery, in partnership with the community, and look forward to the opportunities this project in particular will bring to Moyross and all of Limerick in the very near future.”