Limerick budget passed amid 'roaring across the floor'

Sinn Féin councillor Sharon Benson said living conditions for some locals were like a scene out of Angela’s Ashes

Daniel Butler - Mayor of the City and County of Limerick - said the number of bad-tempered interruptions at the contentious Limerick city and county council budget meeting was akin to a pantomime. Photo: Sean Curtin True Media.

Despite a heated debate that brought comparisons to the pantomime, a total revenue budget of more than €952m was approved by Limerick City and County councillors on Friday.

Out of the total budget, the majority (€749m) is for Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Shared Services, which Limerick runs on behalf of the 31 local authorities, with the remaining €203m allocated to day-to-day services for the citizens of Limerick.