Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is a shortage of houses because, due to the pandemic, houses were not being built. An issue in Limerick at the moment concerns people relocating to Limerick from other counties, which is causing a massive problem with price increases for three- and four-bed houses. It is up to €50,000 to €75,000 in some areas, including Castleconnell. How do we combat that in a time of crisis? We have not built enough houses, now we have a price increase and a shortage of houses. People relocating from the likes of Dublin have been paid big money for their houses so, when they are relocating, it is easy to get on the market and put the local people out of same.

Some 73% of housing in Limerick is at full capacity. There have been promises from previous Governments for up to 30 years that they will upgrade sewerage systems. They fell on deaf ears. Now we have only 27% left. Some 7% in east Limerick and 20% in west Limerick have inadequate sewerage facilities. We have asked the local authorities what they will do and they said they will only upgrade existing sewerage plants, which does not increase capacity. They say they will only build on the areas where there is capacity. That means they will build in west Limerick, mostly, and there is 7% left in east Limerick. When will we get the sewerage treatment plants we have been asking for for up to 30 years in Drumcolliher, Oola and all these places to which people are crying out to come home, for houses to be built and to house the people we have in our areas?