Concerns grow over potential delay of BusConnects as Limerick hits employment record

Irish Examiner

25-04-2025

Concerns have been raised regarding the potential delay of the BusConnects programme in Limerick, as the region has reached 279,000 people in employment — a regional record.
Chief executive of Limerick Chamber Michelle Gallagher said there would be major implications for both employees and business across the city and region if the initial rollout of the plan is delayed past 2025.
Ms Gallagher emphasised the critical importance of expanding and improving public transport infrastructure to support a growing workforce and to ensure Limerick's continued economic development.
'The region has reached almost 279,000 people in employment, a regional record, yet despite this continued growth there is continued failure to adequately address the infrastructure gap within an appropriate timeframe.
"Efficient, reliable, and accessible public transport is not a luxury — it is a necessity for advancing enterprise and access to works," she said.
Increased bus routes and enhanced service frequency are essential to ensuring that our employees can get to work safely and on time, and that businesses can thrive in a connected and sustainable urban environment.
"The recent reports of the delay in rollout of BusConnects is most concerning and the impact will be felt throughout scaling and existing businesses,' she added.
The chamber has continued to voice concerns about the exclusion of Annacotty Business Park from the current BusConnects plan, as the area is home to a 'significant concentration' of employers.
According to Ms Gallagher, its omission from the proposed routes poses a 'substantial threat' to workforce accessibility and business continuity.
'Annacotty Business Park is not peripheral — it is central to Limerick's commercial ecosystem. Its exclusion from the BusConnects plan risks undermining the very objective of the programme, which is to enhance access and mobility for all.
"We have undertaken numerous surveys with employees of the park and our findings outline huge support for a bus route, with 97% of respondents supporting increased public transport to their place of work,' she said.
The chamber has called on the National Transport Authority and relevant stakeholders to 'urgently' prioritise delivery in Limerick.
'We need swift, decisive action to ensure that BusConnects delivers for all areas of the city — not just a select few. Delays and oversights will cost us — in lost productivity, talent retention challenges, and diminished regional competitiveness,' Ms Gallagher said.
Read More
HSE allocates funds to begin move of maternity hospital to UHL seven years after announcement