UL-Clare County Council project could generate 3,500 jobs

SECURING Mid-West political and local authority backing has been identified as the key step in securing government approval for an ambitious new 21st century university town in South-East Clare that has the potential to generate up to 3,500 new jobs.

Economic forecasts have suggested that the site could generate a gross added value of €1.795 billion annually to the Irish economy.

Independent Clare Deputy Michael McNamara has urged Clare County Council and the University of Limerick (UL) to engage fully and constructively with Limerick City and County Council and other regional interests in their bid to have the university campus and its hinterland designated as an Economic Strategic Development Zone (SDZ).

Deputy McNamara said the proposal to develop a 21st century university town will require the full support of the local authority in Limerick and Oireachtas members across the Mid-West, if it is the pass the initial hurdle of receiving SDZ designation from Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

“The project was first announced in 2018 and it appears that progress has been slow in the intervening four years. However, it is better that the project garners the necessary support across the region before SDZ designation is sought.

“I fully support this proposal which is hugely ambitious both in terms of its scale and its scope,” said the TD.

“Securing SDZ designation is the first step on a long road that will also include the development of a detailed masterplan and extensive engagement with stakeholders and landowners before the proposal ever proceeds to construction stage.

The site is projected to generate upwards of 3,500 jobs, with additional employment being generated in the construction phase and subsequent spin-off developments.

Foreign and indigenous enterprises will partner with the University in designing and delivering dual, immersive education, advanced research and re- and upskilling.

“Talent is key to attracting Foreign Direct Investment, and creating attractive places is key to attracting talent,” said Clare County Council Chief Executive Pat Dowling.

“The South Clare/UL Economic SDZ will be an environment with high quality place making providing for a full range of education, research, living, working, and recreational spaces integrated within the University campus environment.”

“I call on Limerick City and County Council and all Oireachtas members from across the Mid-West to show their support for the project, which presents significant potential for the economic development of the region and country,” concluded Deputy McNamara.

University of Limerick and Clare County Council have applied to government to designate lands adjoining the north campus of the University as an Economic Strategic Development Zone.

President of UL Professor Kerstin Mey and Mr Pat Dowling have written to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien, TD to seek the designation.

The application submitted to government to expand and designate lands on the north campus of the University as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) has been made through the UL and Clare Economic Development Agency Designated Activity Company (DAC). Clare County Councillors have already backed this plan a few years ago.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will consult with Limerick City and County Council, residents and other interested parties before making any decision in relation to designation.

If this designation is granted, a two-year consultation will take place with landowners and stakeholders in relation to the development of a masterplan that will be beneficial to UL, Limerick, Clare and the Mid-West region.

It is anticipated the decision regarding the designation will be made by Government in 2022.

“The decision to seek the designation of the lands as an SDZ is a culmination of the joint will of both our organisations to facilitate the development of Academies of Learning and Centres of Excellence on the University campus in County Clare,” said UL President Professor Kerstin Mey.

“These Academies are the cornerstone of the most significant revision of the relationship between Higher Education and Enterprise. They are intended to establish Ireland, and in particular the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area, as a Treasury of Talent constituting a vital resource towards securing future employment opportunities, attracting foreign direct investment into the region, sustaining both multinational and indigenous enterprises and the ongoing economic and social development of Ireland,” Professor Mey added.

The project aims to establish UL as a European Centre of Excellence in dual education, advanced research with industry and knowledge exchange. The establishment of the site as an Innovation
District with enterprise partnerships, immersive academies of learning and necessary amenities will provide a considerable economic, social and cultural boost to the region.

“The development of this area with clustering of domains of knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurship will in time cite Limerick on a par with the great centres of knowledge-led social and economic advantage in both Europe and the United States,” said Professor Mey.

“This is a world class, global location for industry of scale that will allow the University to expand over the next 50 years of its lifetime, and give us more space for student accommodation as well as advanced learning and research spaces.

“To make UL the catalyst of change it needs to be to attract students and world class researchers and academics, the city, the future SDZ and the campus expansion are integrated elements of our vision for the future of this University.”

While Limerick City and County Council have not seen the application, chairman, Councillor Daniel Butler said the university’s commitment to ensuring the site would deliver an economic, social and cultural boost to Limerick is in keeping with the objectives of the authority.

“However, we must ensure that the economy and growth of city centre is safeguarded in any proposals and that the city centre continues to be the main economic growth centre of the region. Our focus now is that, at the earliest opportunity, we have meaningful engagement with UL as part of its consultation process to ensure that the SDZ, should it get government approval, will be for the greater good of the city and region.”

By Dan Danaher