Daytime economy officer sought for Limerick City
Cllr Maria Donoghue. Photo: Brendan Gleeson. INDEPENDENT councillor Maria Donoghue wants the Council to recruit a daytime economy officer to help manage the local retail and cultural offering in Limerick. . .
Cllr Maria Donoghue. Photo: Brendan Gleeson. INDEPENDENT councillor Maria Donoghue wants the Council to recruit a daytime economy officer to help manage the local retail and cultural offering in Limerick City. While pointing to the obvious financial implications of such a move, Cllr Donoghue was of the opinion that there might be potential for reciprocating the nighttime economy officer for a daytime economy officer. “This would include programming activities, both for business, cultural, and for residences here in the city centre. They could coordinate the work already being carried out across many departments, but it needs to be deeper than that. We need to look at specific issues and target them so that they are hit hard,” Cllr Donoghue declared. Aontú councillor Sarah Beasley deemed Cllr Donoghue’s motion an excellent idea to help revitalise the city centre. AdvertisementSignup for the Limerick Post newsletter“There’s been massive improvements in the city centre. There aren’t as many homeless people on the streets at the moment, because we piloted a scheme where we had the shelters open for the whole year rather than just in the winter months, so everything’s looking spick and span,” Cllr Beasley enthused. “But we need footfall, we need something to drive people into the city. Everyone’s giving out about the shop closures, and I think if we had a daytime economy staff, it would be excellent. ”In response, Limerick City and County Council said that it provides the policy context and the receiving environment to protect, support, and encourage the city centre as the primary destination for retail and cultural offerings. “This is achieved through the hierarchy of economic, cultural, community, and spatial plans pertaining to Limerick City linking national policy with regional strategies, local plans, thematic strategies and delivery vehicles,” the Council said. “National policy identifies Limerick City as the regional driver for economic, social, and cultural development. This is particularly expressed in the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028 where the integration of spatial planning, economic development, retail strategy, community infrastructure together with heritage and cultural policy are expressed in a framework for future development and growth. ”