It has been the honour of my life to represent Limerick City in Dáil Eireann. In my first term as a TD, I’ve already made strides: more affordable public transport, a renewable energy push, the Limerick-Foynes Railway line, and substantial grants for renovating vacant properties. But I’m just getting started. I have ambitious plans for further progress which includes a railway to Shannon Airport as part of a Metropolitan Railway network with new city stops by utilising the four existing railway lines entering Limerick.
To keep building on this progress, I need your support and your #1 vote.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Re-opening Limerick to Foynes Railway Line
The Limerick-Foynes railway line is vital for the sustainable growth of Limerick and the Midwest. Reopening this line will boost our competitiveness with Dublin and other European cities. This has always been my vision, and I have been working in Government to lay the foundations for it over the past four years. Freight services are expected to begin by 2026, but I am pushing to have passenger services operational by the time of the Ryder Cup and beyond.
My vision is for the growth of Limerick, be it housing or enterprise, to take place around a new and improved metropolitan railway system for the Midwest region.
It starts with new train stations in Moyross and Ballysimon that are in planning. I want to build on that and add new train stations in other areas, connecting places such as Corbally, Parkway, Lisnagry, Annacotty, Mungret, Raheen, Dooradoyle, Patrickswell, Adare, Askeaton, and Foynes. I also want track upgrades along our existing rail lines so that we can have faster and more frequent services between Limerick Colbert, Limerick Junction, Ennis, Cork, and Galway.
Railway to Shannon Airport is ready for takeoff!
A direct rail link between Limerick and Shannon Airport is crucial for our regional growth, boosting the economy, reducing traffic, and connecting Limerick to the world. I’ve worked hard to secure its inclusion in the All-Island Strategic Rail Review and the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Transport Strategy. This link will be transformative, creating jobs, enhancing tourism and making travel easier for everyone.
Balanced Regional Development
The Midwest has huge potential for growth, but this can only happen if we build a Metropolitan Rail system connecting Shannon Airport to Limerick, as supported by the Strategic Rail Review. This should be a top priority for the next government to drive rapid, sustainable development. New residential and business projects must be centred around this essential, sustainable infrastructure.
HOUSING
Building more homes in the right places
My colleagues and I have been the driving force behind housing reforms, such as the introduction of cost rental housing, the vacant property refurbishment grant, and the new land hoarding tax. These are essential to solving the problems of a historically dysfunctional housing market.
Housing remains a key challenge as Limerick continues to grow. I believe we must plan to deliver new housing exceeding current targets, because we must plan for Limerick as a fast growing, European city that is prepared for the future.
To that end I will work to:
revise the National Planning Framework to increase our ambition for delivery of housing in Limerick as well as other reginal cities;
penalise land hoarding by developers via the new Land Hoarding Tax and the proposed Land Value Sharing mechanism;
deliver affordable and cost rental housing via local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, and the Land Development Agency;
continue and enhance the successful policies, such as the Vacant and Derelict Homes Grant (€50,000 and €70,000), which is helping individuals and families with restoring vacant and derelict properties and turning them into homes.
We have made significant strides in retrofitting homes to improve energy efficiency, make homes warmer and healthier, and reduce energy bills. In 2023 we recorded 47,953 home energy upgrades, which was up from 27,200 in 2022, and 5,900 homes received fully funded energy upgrades.
HEALTH
St. John's Hospital Development
A key project I’ve been advocating for is the expansion at St. John’s Hospital, a critical facility in the provision of healthcare in the Limerick region. After several meetings with stakeholders and management, I am proud to say that my efforts, alongside those of others, have contributed to securing the development of a new block that will add 42 beds. This expansion is part of a broader strategy to alleviate pressure on UHL by increasing capacity at other hospitals in the Midwest.
St. John’s plays a crucial role in supporting our region's healthcare infrastructure, and the additional beds will improve patient flow, reduce waiting times, and ensure that patients receive timely care. I’ve consistently pressed for this development because I believe St. John’s is exceptionally positioned to serve Limerick and the wider region.
Improving healthcare
Health remains a particularly pressing issue in the Midwest, especially in light of the challenges faced by University Hospital Limerick. For nearly a decade, UHL has struggled with chronic overcrowding. We need to in the first instance successfully tackle that while also planning for the future population growth to ensure we don’t face even greater challenges in the future.
Among my top priorities will be:
Expanding capacity in acute healthcare settings by developing a new elective hospital and surgical hubs in Limerick.
Examine and act on the recommendations of the review of overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick.
In my role as a TD for Limerick City I have been advocating for more resources for our healthcare system. I’ve worked closely with my colleagues to ensure the necessary investments are made in Limerick. The current investment will bring much needed relief in the next few years, but it’s clear that we must continue to prioritise expanding capacity to meet the growing demand and to plan for a growing Limerick.
ENERGY
Powering Up
The Midwest is primed to lead in offshore wind and green hydrogen economy, with the Shannon Estuary’s deepwater port and grid connections positioning it as a clean energy hub. In 2020, I was the person who proposed this vision for Limerick and the Shannon Estuary, and this vision is now national policy. As the necessary infrastructure is being built in the coming years, thousands of jobs will be created in and around Limerick, driving economic growth.
South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan has recently been approved, but we need swift planning decisions to be made for the West Coast also, in order to capitalise on offshore energy opportunities.
My strong advocacy for this project in Leinster House is key to keeping up with rapid offshore advancements.
Solar Rooftop Revolution
In the last couple of years we have seen huge progress in the development of rooftop solar energy. My colleagues and I have delivered real support for individuals, schools, farmers, and businesses. We removed planning and VAT requirements on solar panels, made it easier for families to install solar panels with grants up to €2,100, and extended these grants to community groups, businesses, and farmers. We also introduced payments for surplus electricity, cutting bills even further.
Today, solar panels are everywhere you look in Limerick—100 families across Ireland install them daily. Every school in the country is receiving free panels, with Limerick schools among the first to benefit from Solar for Schools. This solar revolution is slashing energy costs while also strengthening our energy security.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Delivering better bus services for a growing Limerick
New 24-hour service to Shannon Airport
A new 24-hour service to Shannon Airport, with buses every 20 minutes during peak times along Ennis Road, is only possible because of increased investment in public transport that I have been fighting for.
Recently, I travelled to an event in Murroe on a bus service that simply didn’t exist a few years ago. Just a few days later, I found myself in Bruff, again using a bus service that is new and made possible by the significant investment in public transport that my colleagues and I have championed over the past few years.
Since 2022, the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan has transformed communities in Limerick, introducing over 120 new or enhanced rural bus services—about one every week for the past two years. This revitalization has led to an incredible 112% increase in passenger numbers, highlighting the success of our efforts to enhance public transport accessibility.
Locally, several key routes have seen major improvements:
Route 343 (Limerick - Shannon Airport): A new 24-hour service to Shannon Airport, with buses every 20 minutes during peak times along Ennis Road.
Route 332 (Limerick - UL - Murroe - Cashel): Now provides 6 services daily between Murroe and University of Limerick, a huge leap from just 6 services per week.
Route 329 (Limerick - Bruff - Kilmallock - Kilfinane): Increased from 3 to 8 services per day, with Sunday services growing from zero to 5.
Route 314 (Ballybunion - Askeaton - Limerick): Increased from 5 to 8 services per day, with 4 continuing out to Ballybunion.
First city with a fully electric bus fleet - Limerick
Bus passenger numbers in Limerick City rose by 15% in 2023, with nearly 13,000 daily journeys. In response, we’ve replaced our old diesel buses with 55 new electric buses, offering cleaner air and quieter streets. The upcoming BusConnects program will deliver a high-frequency, reliable service, including a 24-hour UL-UHL route and better links to rail and Park and Ride services.
ACTIVE TRAVEL
Walking and cycling infrastructure
I am proud to claim one of the key achievements - the establishment of Active Travel Teams in every local authority, which was a direct result of my efforts in negotiating the Programme for Government in 2020. Limerick now has a team over 20 strong, dedicated to improving walking and cycling infrastructure across the city. Over the past four years, we’ve secured more than €20 million annually to upgrade and expand this infrastructure, with almost 15 kilometres of new, safe infrastructure delivered. This includes major improvements to footpaths in residential estates and the improvement and creation of new paths in parks such as Baggott Estate, Mayorstone Quarry, Ted Russell Park, Castletroy Park, Westfields Wetlands, and Caherdavin Park.
This increased investment is driving forward vital projects across the city. Segregated cycle lanes now run along the length of Childers Road and Hyde Road, linking the residential areas and schools, as well as Colbert Station and the main bus station. The upgrade of Mill Road is well underway, and Castletroy Greenway, Plassey Road and Father Russell Road have already been completed. In addition, construction on the route from TUS to the city centre is set to begin by late 2024. Improvements on Brookville Avenue, Clonmacken Road, and Dooradoyle Road are also making Limerick a more accessible and sustainable city.
While progress has been significant, we need both courage and funding to continue developing this infrastructure into a network of safe, segregated and interconnected paths.
I will continue to advocate to invest in this infrastructure to deliver better air quality, less congestion and less noise. I commit to:
Continue to invest €1m a day in walking and cycling infrastructure.
Fund greenway projects with a separate allocation of €50m each year.
Focus investment on the maintenance and improvement of existing cycle lanes and footpaths, including resurfacing and repair work.
Improve the design of new cycle ways ensuring they meet the standard commonly seen in comparator European countries.
CHILDCARE
Supporting families
Working for affordable, high-quality childcare
The recent increase in the universal childcare subsidy, a key initiative from the Green Party, provides significant support to parents. The subsidy has been raised by 53%, now standing at €2.14 per hour, which translates to savings of up to €96.30 per week per child—over €5,000 annually for families. Additionally, the National Childcare Scheme has been expanded to include all children up to the age of 15, making it more inclusive than ever.
Another significant measure we have secured is that parental leave has been extended from two weeks to an impressive nine weeks. We have also implemented paid leave for victims of domestic violence and made provisions for deferring maternity leave for those experiencing physical or mental health challenges. These measures reflect our commitment to supporting families and ensuring their well-being.