Limerick councillors vote to stop development of 500 modular homes in Boro Park

Unanimous vote on emergency motion to ditch Mayor John Moran's Janesboro Park plan

Two prototype modular homes went on display in Limerick City last autumn to showcase the 'delivery of affordable housing' could look like. Picture: Manon Gilbart

Limerick councillors have unanimously voted not to proceed with the development of 500 modular homes at Boro Park, despite mayor John Moran’s declaring a housing emergency.

The decision was taken after a three‑hour meeting, attended by a packed public gallery, during which all 39 councillors backed an emergency measure directing that works at Boro Park should not proceed.

Boro Park was one of 11 sites identified as a potential SMART housing location. Over €16,000 was to be spent appointing planning consultants. 

The emergency  motion was brought by councillor Sarah Kiely and Príomh Chomhairleoir Catherine Slattery, under section 139 of the Local Government Act 2001, which directs an elected council that works shall not proceed on a proposed site.

'Housing emergency' 

Ahead of the meeting, Mr Moran declared a housing emergency in Limerick and detailed how experts identified the park for development.

On his website ahead of the meeting, Mr Moran wrote: “Will we accelerate the delivery of over 500 new homes — or make it harder or impossible to build them? Because the reality we face is that Limerick is in a housing emergency. 

"This is not a slogan. It is not a political position. It is a fact.” 

While councillors voted in favour of the legislation, several pointed out they should not have to choose between “housing or a park” — and would prefer not to be put into this position again in the future.

Councillor Sarah Beasley said: 

We’ve been backed into a corner. A community should not have to choose between housing and a public park. 

At the end of the meeting, council chief executive Pat Daly was asked whether he would instruct staff and the director of housing not to proceed with any works. Mr Daly confirmed that no works would go ahead.

While Mr Moran argued that section 139 had been wrongly used, Ms Kiely said invoking the emergency legislation had been a “last resort”.

She said she wanted to avoid delays in delivering housing by diverting staff, resources, and public funds towards advancing a planning application for Boro Park, arguing that a more suitable site should instead be prioritised.

Park is 'safe green space' for residents 

Ms Kiely added that Boro Park was the “only safe green space” available to many residents in the area.

During the meeting, it was suggested that Mr Moran should refrain from “pinpointing” individual councillors at a time when social media is considered “toxic”, after he named Ms Kiely and Ms Slattery in the posts on his website.

Mr Moran said he did not use a disrespectful tone and that “if we take positions in this authority, we should be prepared for the public to know that we’ve taken those positions and I think that is fair".

Mr Moran had written that the plans for Boro Park are “not new”, but are part of the Colbert Quarter Strategic Framework, in alignment with the Limerick Development Plan adopted in 2022–2023.

He said the “lands were zoned by councillors in the last council for high-density housing” under the framework and claimed many residents were not “given the full picture”.

“Now just as the fuller picture is being developed by engineers and architects working with our officials and is being revealed to the public, the councillors opposed to the plans are panicking."