Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I rise today to welcome the fact the Dublin task force report was launched during the week. I have written to the Taoiseach to request a task force for Limerick to tackle things such as dereliction and to bring small niche shops back into the city centre. We need to rejuvenate our city centre. Limerick is the third largest city yet we have one of the largest amounts of dereliction and number of vacant units. It has had a knock-on effect on other businesses in Limerick city. I believe a task force could be set up locally. It could have the mayor, some of the councillors and some of the business owners as well. I note the Dublin task force looked at having more gardaí on the street, having a marketing manager for Dublin, how to bring businesses to fill those vacant units and how to create cultural activities within the city centre. Limerick could be very well placed to follow suit and have something similar. I ask for the Deputy Leader's support. I have written to the Taoiseach but I have also written to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment because I felt it fell within its remit.It told me that it is in the remit of the Departments of Rural Development. It also falls within the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage because there is a housing element involved. It is very important that we fill these over-the-shop units and bring people into the city centre to live. The aim of the task force will be to make Limerick a place for people to work and live in and to enjoy. This initiative should be rolled out in all major cities of Ireland.