Mayor orders independent review of housing shortfalls in Limerick

MAYOR of Limerick, John Moran is to commission an independent evaluation to establish why the provision of housing in Limerick is so far below what’s needed.

The announcement comes after he came under sharp criticism from councillors after they were told a significant portion of Government funding under the Tenant in Situ scheme went unused last year.

Under the scheme, local authorities can purchase residential properties in cases where private tenants receive a notice to quit. This allows the residents to remain in their home by becoming council tenants.

In reply to a motion, submitted by Cllr Catherine Slattery ahead of the January meeting of the Metropolitan District, Sarah Newell, Senior Executive Officer confirmed that more than €1m was not spent last year.

READ MORE: Mayor announces plan to commission independent review of housing shortfalls in Limerick

“A total of €13,863,546.92 was submitted to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for 2025 out of a total allocation of €15m,” she stated.
In her reply, Ms Newell said there were a number of reasons as to why the full allocation of €15m was not spent in 2025.
One reason cited was “delays with an acquisition not being approved internally, which necessitated the housing team to substitute in another property, which caused delays and the loss of a unit for 2025.”
According to Ms Newell, the closing on a further property was delayed for a number of months as “numerous queries had to be responded to prior to final approval internally”.
In other cases, she said there were delays with vendors sending back contracts due to them living abroad. However, those properties are expected to close in 2026.
Speaking at the January meeting, Ms Newell told councillors that when recommendations to purchase a property are made, there is a process before final approval.
“It has to go to our Director of Service and onwards to the Director General for sign off, which is relatively a quick process. When it goes to the Mayor’s office, there was a delay with a decision on some properties.”
Noting the reply to her motion, Cllr Slattery commented: “I feel that this scheme is not being run correctly by this council.”
Cllr Joe Pond seconded the motion saying: “I myself had some people that we put into this scheme, and I find it hard to believe there was only half the money drawn down in December.”
Cllr Dan McSweeney also expressed support for the motion: “I’m on a hunt today because at the end of the day, there’s a family likely to be homeless today because somebody didn’t do their job in signing off acquisitions, I think this warrants a full review.”
In a statement, issued on Friday evening, Mayor Moran confirmed that he will be asking for cross-party collaboration with the independent evaluation that he intends to commission and fund from his discretionary Mayoral Fund.
The evaluation will focus on why housing delivery has been so far below Limerick’s needs and to advise what can be done to speed up delivery of all forms of tenure.
“I’ve spent over a year in my role working to understand the Limerick specific complex housing issues and pushing forward some new innovations. I have learned a lot. That has helped frame my decisions up to now,” he said in a statement.
“I realise some think that what I have been pushing forward is radical in recent historic terms. But we need radical. We now have a new Director of Service for Housing so the time is ripe for a stock-take. I would now like to see an independent review of historic decisions, my new courses of action and any other alternative paths to be taken.”