Limerick
Decades of development have transformed Limerick
Just 20 minutes from Shannon International Airport which offers full US customs pre-clearance and direct flights to Britain and mainland Europe, Limerick is one of Ireland’s best-connected cities.
It is equally well served by sea. Taking advantage of some of the world’s deepest and most sheltered harbours, Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) is transforming the Shannon estuary into an international economic hub.
The city itself is also investing in its future. As part of a plan to transform Limerick into a major economic force in the Irish and European stage, €1bn is now being committed to generate 12,000 new jobs.
Unsurprisingly, Limerick’s energy and commitment to development attracts dynamic new businesses across many sectors. These include medical, IT, electronics and financial services, while nine of the world’s top 10 pharmaceutical companies are located within two hours drive.
Gardens International: enhancing Limerick’s commercial and retail heart
Building on
firm foundations
Today, successful business locations are judged on three key criteria: their educational facilities and standards, their housing and office capacity, their availability of talent and their quality of life. Across all four areas, Limerick scores highly:
Education
- Three of Ireland’s most respected third level academic institutions are located in Limerick: University of Limerick (UL), Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) and Mary Immaculate College (MIC).
- Each year, 6,000 people graduate in IT, Life Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering, Technology and other disciplines.
- 62% of Limerick’s 30-34 year olds have completed 3rd level education – a percentage that significantly exceeds the European average.
Housing
- On average, Limerick’s housing costs are 30% less than the national average.
- In a recent survey of 367 cities, Limerick was named the most affordable place to buy a home1.
- In 2016, an average four-bedroom semi-detached house in Limerick cost €197,000 – less than half the price of a similar house in Dublin.
1 13th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey 2017 [Year TBC]
Quality of life
- Limerick is affordable. The city has the highest level of disposable income per capita outside of the greater Dublin region. This, combined with lower living costs. make Limerick a very cost-effective place to live.
- Commuting times are short. For two-thirds of the working population, the commute is less than thirty minutes.
- Schools are plentiful. There are 33 primary schools and 15 secondary schools in Limerick city and a further 107 primary schools and 17 post primary schools across the county.
Talent
- The Mid-West attracts highly educated professionals; 96% have a third level qualification.
- ‘Limerick for IT’ and ‘Limerick for Engineering’ are two programmes established in recent years between the city’s third level institutions to develop the quality and quantity of IT and Engineering talent within the region.
The key numbers
€1,000,000,000
Being invested in development
6,000
graduates
annually
Mid-West attracts highly
educated professionals
96%
have a third level
qualification.
3
third level
institutes
30
minutes average
commute
140
primary schools
32
secondary schools
½
the cost of
housing in Dublin
20
minutes from
Shannon Airport
Housing costs
30% lower
than national average
