'Smart homes' the top priority for Limerick mayor

The city's first directly elected mayor John Moran has revealed how his €10.5m fund will be spent

John Moran shared preliminary allocations for his annual mayoral fund of €7m, to which unspent funds were carried over from 2024, totalling €10.5m. File picture

Limerick mayor John Moran has revealed the spending priorities for this year's €10.5m mayoral fund, including a focus on making homes 'smart', and preparing for a Ryder Cup influx.

Mr Moran became the first directly elected mayor in June and on Wednesday shared preliminary allocations for his annual mayoral fund of €7m, to which unspent funds were carried over from 2024, totalling €10.5m.

This comes after a "once-off gesture" by central government to reflect the fact that the establishment of the new office took place in the middle of 2024.

Funds the mayor referred to as “modest” in comparison with the overall Budget 2025 allocations were approved by the local authority in November.

Mr Moran wants the 2025 priorities to contribute to his “More for Limerick” programme, reflecting conversations he has had with councillors and the public.

The allocations set out this Wednesday are preliminary and "will likely be adjusted as the year progresses" and the progress on projects becomes clearer. However, they give an indication of projects which are intended to be prioritised from this funding source for 2025.

During his mayoral campaign, Mr Moran was described as the man with “the housing plan”, and one of his key priorities is to provide modular housing to meet the growing demand and explore more affordable solutions.

Limerick mayoral fund allocations

For these smart homes some €1.3m has been allocated, with work “being prioritised to find solutions for rapid delivery on State lands and to secure the relevant national government approvals”.

The mayor revealed they are assessing whether 17 sites in Limerick City could provide for these modular homes.

When asked when he expects the first smart home to be in use, Mr Moran said: “First of all, clearing the lines with the department so that they're up for this. 

"I think the new minister and staff have shown a willingness to look at these modular homes differently than perhaps in the past. That might allow us to move more quickly than we might have anticipated.” 

As site selection has begun, Mr Moran said it was now a question of identifying one that “works quickly and has the utilities in place”.

Mr Moran indicated that once people are on board, they should "be able to be put on site within a matter of 18 months to two years" — just in time for the Ryder Cup.

“The thought process is how much of this can we get done by the Ryder Cup because we will have an influx of people also temporarily looking for accommodation at that time to be managed. And if we can help to arrange that for 2027, then it means accommodation is available for everyone else in 2028," he said.

A total of €2.3m has been allocated to other housing projects, such as design work in regeneration areas, to help fund the purchase of new lands, to secure planning permission on State lands, and to start work on the feasibility of a new structure for citywide student housing.

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Another €1m was allocated to better the quality of urban spaces, as the “poor quality” of the offering “holds back cities”.

To encourage “greater numbers of people” to live in the city centre and visit more, €1.7m has been allocated for the city centre amenities, including funds to move forward the use of the Royal Cinema and other vacant buildings on Cecil Street.

Some €325,000 was allocated to activities and festivals across the city and county, while €1.2m was allocated to work on heritage assets with “long overdue repairs”.

Works on the flood-proofing of Kings Island have begun this year, with further allocations made towards further community projects, with €700,000 set for that area.

Allocations totalling €365,000 are to be focused on leveraging other funds for a number of State-owned assets in Rathkeale and in the Kilmallock district, while €560,000 has been allocated to other amenity projects, including works on green spaces in Garryowen.