'Citizens feel vulnerable': Safety concern over energy-efficient street lights in Limerick

NEW energy efficient street lighting introduced in Limerick have been described as “about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike” by one councillor.

Fine Gael’s Peter Doyle was speaking during a debate on the introduction of new LED bulbs which are being introduced across the city at present.

These new lights, council says, are being fitted under a nationwide programme to replace old public street lights with modern, energy-saving LED lights.

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They use about half as much power as old light bulbs.

But councillors have complained the new lights are putting the public at risk due to what they feel is their low visibility.

At this month’s metropolitan meeting, a call from one member, Cllr Maria Donoghue, to replace the LED lights with higher-grade lamps was rejected by engineer John O’Keeffe.

“Citizens feel vulnerable on our streets - and these are residential streets. Parts of these streets are black. You cannot see in front of you,” said Cllr Donoghue, giving Alphonsus Street, Henry Street, Newenham Street and Dock Road as examples.

“I had a call from someone who was physically assaulted leaving work at 7pm. If the power of the lights cannot be heightened, perhaps we can increase the number of lights,” she added.