‘Four in 10 of Limerick's new homes built in one city electoral area’

ALMOST four in every 10 homes completed in Limerick were in the electoral area which covers Castletroy and Annacotty, new figures have shown.

According to the Central Statistics Office, 395 homes were put in place in 2024 across City East.

County-wide, 1,020 homes were completed, Fine Gael councillor Peter Doyle told the metropolitan meeting this month.

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The figures have sparked calls for improved public infrastructure, with Independent councillor Elena Secas seeing a motion passed calling for this.

“Castletroy is the fastest growing suburb in Munster. Hundreds of new homes have been delivered in the area and hundreds more are under way, but the infrastructure simply hasn’t kept pace. Our roads are overwhelmed and congestion has become a daily reality. There is no road network designed for the level of traffic this area is experiencing,” Cllr Secas said.

“At the same time, community facilities are lagging far behind the growth. There is no community centre or youth centre, no library. There’s mounting pressure on schools and childcare. The graveyard is at capacity. No garda station, and I could go on.”
The City East councillor won support for her call for what she described as a “more balanced planning approach”, which will give community infrastructure.

Cllr Doyle backed the motion, as did Independent councillor Ursula Gavan, who seconded it, and Cllr Joe Pond of Fianna Fail.

“Here we go again,” said Cllr Pond.

“Every month, we have a motion about traffic or something in the Castletroy and Annacotty area. We seem to give out permission to anyone who puts in an application. Yet we do not seem to look for infrastructure at all,” he said.

Transport director Patricia Liddy said council will work to look for funding opportunities “to enhance the city suburbs”.