Next up for my “From Your Mayor’s Desk” series is a note to delve into the public consultation we did on SMART homes prototypes in Arthurs Quay. 

I have long been strongly of the view that this is a very good idea for Limerick but what matters most is what did the public think, especially those who might want to call them home. 

SURVEY Link - Click for Survey

The initiative termed SMART Homes was one of my main election commitments - probably the reason that it has hit such strong opposition from some of my political opponents. 

But I do not want us to mix up a debate about the wisdom of building on one particular parcel of land with whether this new type of home is a good idea itself if we find acceptable locations on which to build. 

The concept is rather simple at one level.  To use modern methods of construction to speed up construction of up to 2,000 housing units in multi-storey buildings.  I wanted to focus this initiative to speed up delivery to help people in the squeeze middle let down by the failed private rental market.

Today, I am releasing details of a survey which confirms very strong backing for the concept among those likely to benefit from it. 

As people know full well I myself am a landlord.  I have never hidden that fact.  Indeed, it gives me an on the ground first hand experience of what things are like. 

I have seen first hand how Ireland's rental market has been letting down tenants for many years.  In 2010 or so, rents collapsed by 50% but have increased steadily as shortages hit home to now soar above the pre financial crisis highpoints.  Progressively, although lagging behind Dublin, Limerick has also suffered steadily on the unaffordable rent levels - simply as we do not have enough new supply.

It was why in a private capacity years ago, I tried out a new innovative way to deliver new rental housing delivery in a Georgian building when I launched what some might call a co-living scheme right at the heart of Limerick.  "Bleak" Limerick' landscape gets a lift with co-living Georgian makeover.   

For the SMART homes initiative, I also wanted to target a solution for those squeezed middle residents who want to rent for a couple of years.  Those who are saving to buy a home.  Those who have just graduated or moved to Limerick for a job and are not yet sure what the future holds.  We are talking mainly single persons or couples before the kids have arrived.

It does not really matter what I thought. What is important to make it work is whether others agreed.  As they would need to find them attractive so as to rent them to pay back any loans we as the Council took out to buy them.   

What better way than to show them for real. 

So we put two units on display in Arthur's Quay to see whether people found them attractive or not. We could not build a four storey building but we were able to put two different size units on site for people to visit.  

We all knew that many of the people visiting to check them out would themselves be renters in their own right.  In many ways their views are more relevant than those of us lucky enough to have been able to buy a home of our own - many of us many years ago when larger houses were still affordable for the squeezed middle. 

The good news seems to be that I am very much on the right track:

• 87% were positive,
• 82% found the idea inspiring and even
• 72% found the idea visionary.

The full survey outcomes are available to see here - Click for Survey

So what are these SMART homes?

I think by now, most people know that I have made it a priority to introduce a large state-led intervention in Limerick into the private rental market to try and bring down unaffordable rents for renters.  SMART homes are a key part of that.  

This is not the only thing we are doing.  We’ll of course push on with building permanent homes but that will take too long and cannot be our only solution. 

As Mayor, I also want to seek a different and new solution -- using hundreds of modular single one-bedroom homes, rapidly assembled together on site into three/four storey buildings.  They will be designed for a 60-year lifespan and rented at market rents by the council or under our control. 

That means there is no risk of a private landlord using these extra homes to take advantage of a shortage of rental homes here. We the Council will set the tenure and the rent levels without a profit objective. 

The buildings can even be moved if the site is needed back for something else which should free up a lot more public land.  The removal might even be done to allow even more permanent homes to be constructed in the community. 

How badly are we delivering when it comes to our targets for new housing?

Remember even back in mid-2024 at the time of my election, articles were being written about deepening rental challenges noting that “Limerick sees biggest rent increase in Ireland, latest figures show” O'Donovan, Limerick Post, November 13, 2024

Things have gotten no better – but I’ll return to that in a later more detailed post soon.

The main other context to remember is:

Limerick’s annual new home build rate in Limerick was 1,009 in the 12 months ending Q3 2025 (up from 866 the year before but looks to have dropped back since into 2026).  Remember this is ALL new homes - not just social homes.

Another way to think of this is that:

“Overall the total completions across the city and county during the first three-years of the current Development Plan are less than one year’s housing target.” (The Mayor’s Report “NPF Implementation Housing Growth Requirements, Jan 2026”, pp 9-10). 

Our expert advisors tell us we need some 12,000-16,000 new homes by 2030.  They also suggest 55% of our new builds should be for 1-bedroom capacity. 

Government targets demanded that we should see 2,599 new homes per annum at least built every year across the private and public sectors, for a normal functioning housing market.  We have scope to provide for an additional 50% to try and counter build up unmet demand which means almost 4,000 homes a year are now required to be built during 2025-2028.

The supporters outweigh the sceptics

Pioneers often face scepticism and opposition.

Sir William Preece the Chief Engineer of the British Post Office, famously said in 1876:

"The Americans have need of the telephone, but we do not. We have plenty of messenger boys."

I too have been faced with strong vocal opposition from some councillors – one maintains “this is all a total waste of money” and presumably maintains that I should drop the idea quickly.  Another, has told me that what are referred to as “dog-boxes” will come into her community “over her dead body”.  Strong words indeed. 

But, since I have pushed this project, I have also gotten a lot of support.

I believe the opposition to the concept of SMART homes reflects a minority view.  Maybe coming from natural fear of change.  Maybe just pure NIMBYism. Maybe it is just because of political opposition to me as the Mayor.  We’ll never know which I suppose. 

But I take great resilience and encouragement from the fact that many more councillors have been positive about the idea. 

Even more importantly, after months of analysis, the Department and the Minister adopted our project as one of two government sponsored trailblazer projects to trial modern methods of construction (aka modular) in Ireland.  So now I know at least I am also pushing government policy.

But enough of that, what actually did the public think in our survey?

Firstly, who are the Public we asked?

To move beyond speculation and help people understand the innovation, we put two SMART fully furnished prototype units on display for several months in Limerick and listened carefully. 

So who were those people?

Firstly, they are people who came to see the units, did short interviews or left views on site.

Interestingly, while some councilors might naturally feel they should prioritise views of people living near proposed sites, the independent research company concluded that the participants were a more general group “broadly in the target markets of young adults (and their parents), students, young professionals, down-sizers and to an extent young families.”

23% are living with parents and 13% renting with others, 10% with a partner – only 5% renting by themselves.  33% own an apartment. 

Two pictures of the profile of the respondents collected are:-

And what did this group think? 

A clear majority -- 76% -- felt that the project makes them “strongly positive in general and positive about Limerick City and County Council in particular”. 

The concept had “a very positive reaction from visitors to Arthur’s Quay and ” and was seen as strongly;

• “motivating”,
• “positive”,
• “inspiring”,
• “exciting” and
• “visionary”.

The Exhibition “exceeded and met expectations for the majority of research participants”.

According to one respondent “It will mean a real difference to an entire generation who are currently unable to move out of their parents’ homes and begin living independent adult lives.”

Another said “I feel that SMART Housing can bring peace of mind and positive change to people’s lives.”

The main disadvantage as seen to be “uncertainty on how it will work and how much it will cost in practice” – all items which I can commit will be clarified as we go along through the planning and build phases.  

Some also noted that the internal communal areas need good management – a concern of which we are very much aware which is why we want to have local government control over the management.

There was also a strong preference for the larger 32m2.

• 43% preferred the larger one.
• 26% said both would suit.
• 24% thought neither and
• 7% preferred the smaller unit (23m2)

As for where people wanted to live:-

• 46% wanted to live in Limerick city and
• 36% in the suburbs

Yet currently 46% live in the suburbs and only 31% in the city.

So here are four of the main outcomes in pictures:-

Overall Impression

Main Advantages:

Main Disadvantage

And what about the two Arthur’s Quay prototypes:-

Survey Quotes

Everyone will have their own favourite quotes from the survey.  Of course, it was not all rosy.

But here are some of the quotes that jumped out for me:-

“I do not want my kids to turn to me in 2 year’s time – fed up with being in a single room at home – and heading off to Timbuktu” (Woman, 50’s).

“It would mean the world to me.  To have my own front door.  I wouldn’t have to share/tidy up immediately” (Woman, 30s)

“..Now I am 22 and living at home in a caravan in the garden.  It is better than the options out there.  I want to shoulder responsibility versus relying on different people.  A big reason we are in a crisis socially is that men in their 30s are living at home with no responsibilities.” (Man, 22)

“I’m working in the hospital and people are being evicted …. These are single people who want to live by themselves and have a quiet safe place to relax.” (Woman, 30s) 

“They have to do something progressive like this – something watertight and warm – need to build confidence in new solutions. (Man, 20s).

“It is a fabulous idea.  You should have independent living beside nursing homes”. (Man, 70s)

”These homes are seen as modern and bright – I like the minimalism” (Woman, 20s)

“It looks futuristic, better insulation and sustainable”(Man, 20’s)

“You pay a lot more than for just a room but this style of unit gives you your own kitchen, privacy but is still connected to the community (Quantitative Survey)

“It’s an idea and we need ideas badly.  I like new ideas and no-one is coming up with new ideas.  (Man, 70s)

“It is good to see the council willing to engage in ideas.  It is not stagnant.  It is open to possibilities and not risk-averse.  They are tackling a problem versus inertia. No one will tackle it.  They are taking leadership.  I don’t care if they fail – at least they tried. (Woman, 40’s)

“In Ireland we have a mentality that we need to buy a house.  This [concept] is interesting because 1) it is cheaper to build, 2) there is less time to gain value and 3) Limerick as a city needs people living n t.  It would be up in months”. (man late 20s)

 “In an emergency, anything is good.  It is a crisis solution versus a solution (Woman, earl 20s)

“We shouldn’t be in this situation” (You can take it the Mayor agrees to that!) “We need to get our feet in the door and expand on that.  It is better than being on the streets and having to emigrate” (Man, early 20s)        

 “We came here today to say how shocked we were to see the article in the Limerick Post being so damning of this idea.” (Man and Woman, 50s)

All I ask now is that you read the full survey for yourselves.   SURVEY Link - Click for Survey