1.0 | Introduction 1.1 | Overview Limerick City is the largest urban centre in Ireland’s Mid-West and the country’s third largest city. The NPF supports ambitious growth targets to enable Limerick City to grow by at least 50% to 2040 and to achieve its potential to become a city of scale. The NPF recognises the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area’s growth potential with existing third level institutes and international airport and port facilities. The NPF aims to build on these strengths while improving liveability through key growth enablers including proposals to implement and extend Limerick City Centre in accordance with the Limerick 2030 Economic and Spatial Plan, enhance opportunities for education and employment, and enhance connectivity to Shannon International Airport and Shannon Foynes Port, Cork and Waterford. The NPF also aims to provide for a citywide public transport network with enhanced accessibility from the centre to the National Technology Park, the university and the airport, the development of a strategic
cycleway network, development, regeneration, and to diversification of the city. Shannon is a significant employment centre with assets such as Shannon International Airport, Shannon Free-Zone (SFZ) and the International Aviation Services Centre (IASC). Though located within different counties and 19km apart, both Limerick City and Shannon are interdependent, with complementary functions contributing to a combined strength - a primary economic driver for the Region. Significant strategic investment in recent decades has helped unlock their joint potential, including the Limerick Tunnel (N7), improved links to Dublin via the N7 Dublin-Limerick motorway, and Galway via the M18. This Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan provides a focus on Limerick City and the metropolitan settlement of Shannon. It sets out the framework for Limerick City and County Council and Clare County Council and the various stakeholders to implement the NPF within the context of the RSES.
1.2 | Spatial Definition
The Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area includes Limerick City Centre at the core and the continuous built up area of Limerick City and Suburbs (as defined by the CSO). Shannon in Co. Clare is the largest metropolitan town with a population of 9,729.
The Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area also includes Annacotty (2,930), Castleconnell (2,107), Patrickswell (847), Clarina (294), Mungret (277) in Limerick and Sixmilebridge (2,625), Ardnacrusha (1,383), Clonlara (713), Cratloe (692), Ballycannan (638), Bunratty (349) and O’Briensbridge (396) in Clare 32 . The MASP area is almost evenly split, with 49% located in Co. Clare and 51% in the City and County of Limerick.
32. Population from Census 2016 of each listed settlement is contained in brackets.
Southern Regional Assembly | RSES
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