Limerick Council to consider dedicated WhatsApp number for complaints

Limerick City and County Council will explore a dedicated WhatsApp number to receive public complaints with photos, a motion raised by Labour councillor Joe Leddin at the September Metropolitan District meeting.

Cllr Leddin said councillors are “constantly inundated” with emails and texts about issues such as broken light poles, damaged traffic lights, bent bollards and potholes, which are then forwarded to customer services. He argued a WhatsApp line would allow residents to contact councillors directly while on the move, reducing duplication of work.

Social Democrats councillor Shane Hickey‑O’Mara welcomed the idea in principle but declined to second the motion, noting it could empower residents and avoid clientelism. Fianna Fáil councillor Catherine Slattery seconded the motion and highlighted the potential for an out‑of‑hours emergency service, citing a recent case where an elderly resident’s ceiling leak took three days to be addressed.

The council responded that residents can already contact it via multiple channels, including personal interaction, email, phone, social media, webform and the MyLimerick portal, and said it would assess the implications of a WhatsApp service as part of a broader review of customer‑service platforms.

Source: Limerick Post. Photo: Michael D Beckwith / Pexels.