Councillors call to pause LED street light rollout pending full safety review

A MOTION calling for a pause on the installation of additional LED street lights under the Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Project (PLEEP) has received unanimous cross-party support at Limerick City and County Council.

The PLEEP scheme is a regional initiative designed to improve energy efficiency by retrofitting public lighting with LED lanterns, with the aim of reducing carbon emissions and long-term energy costs.

However, Sinn Féin Councillor Sharon Benson has raised concerns that the environmental benefits of the project must not come at the expense of public safety or value for money.

Cllr Benson said she brought forward the motion after receiving numerous complaints from residents who felt their estates had been left inadequately lit following the installation of the new lights.

She said that, after visiting several residential areas, it was clear that some of the lighting was not providing sufficient illumination, particularly in areas with older populations.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Benson relayed feedback from one senior resident who said they felt compelled to paint their steps white for visibility, citing difficulty navigating their home safely due to the reduced lighting levels.

The motion calls for a temporary pause on further installations until a review of the lights already in place is completed and legal advice is sought.

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It also requests that Cork County Council, the lead authority for the PLEEP contract, attend a Limerick Council meeting to answer questions regarding the scheme.

While acknowledging the importance of energy-efficient infrastructure, Cllr Benson said transparency around costs and performance is essential.

A section 85 agreement approved in January 2020 provided for a €12 million loan to fund the project, yet councillors have been informed of additional annual costs, despite expectations of savings overall.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme