Ennis could see a significant boost in investment if granted city status, it’s claimed.
Members of the Municipal District are pushing for the upgrade in the hopes it will lead to increased economic growth and a boost in tourism.
They believe the town has lost out on investment in recent years.
Traditionally, cities were classed as densely populated areas with a university and a cathedral and in the coming year Ennis will have achieved that.
With a population size of 25,000 Ennis is already Munster’s largest town and from next September, it will also be a university town when LIT’s status is elevated.
This has led to calls from a number of local politicians for the town to be granted city status in the hope it would lead to increased growth, a boost in tourism and increased employment.
The latest meeting of Clare County Council heard that granting the status to Sligo and Kilkenny has been hugely beneficial to both of those areas.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Daly says there has been no jobs announcements in industry in Ennis in more than two decades and he believes this would change if the town is given the upgrade.
The Taoiseach was due to launch Clare County Council’s Ennis 2040 Plan last month, but this has been postponed until restrictions are eased.
The plan provides a long-term vision for the development of the town, with plans expected to include a hoped-for transformation of up to nine sites across the town.
Former Mayor, Fine Gael Councillor Johnny Flynn insists a long term vision is what’s needed for Ennis to become a high quality place for employment and education and he insists that will have benefits for the entire county.
The County town witnessed 66% population growth in the 25 years up to 2011 and Councillor Flynn believes that type of expansion can be achieved once again over the coming years.
