Residents blame rail works for surge in rodent problems
Residents of a housing estate in Limerick say they are living in fear because of a rat infestation, which they claim is a result of renewal works being carried out on a nearby disused railway line.
Niamh McAndrew from Rathbane in Co. Limerick says she has witnessed rats coming over her wall daily, and some have died under her floorboards. Niamh says the council “would come up, put down poison, and the rats would die. Sometimes they would die while under the floorboards, and the council said they could not remove them. We had a toxic smell, like a gas, from them.” It is a vicious cycle, and the infestation has disrupted everyday life for the community.
Health risks and lack of response
Residents are aware of the health hazards facing them in their homes, and despite contacting multiple bodies, including Irish Rail, they have received little to no assistance. The Limerick to Foynes railway line has been inactive for over twenty years. Recently, Irish Rail has been carrying out renewal works on the line as part of the Iarnród Éireann Rail Freight 2040 Strategy. They have dug out shrubbery growing between the tracks, trimmed back overgrown hedges, and cleared out rubbish.
Ms McAndrew, who has lived beside the railway line for decades, says they became overrun when Irish Rail started work. Since then, she has faced rats daily, coming over her wall, running in her garden, and entering her home. The infestations are not confined to Niamh’s home; neighbours have reported similar issues. A local taxi driver described the area as being “run by them.”
Niamh and other members of the community have emailed Irish Rail more than once but to no avail. An unnamed family who wrote earlier this year received a response, telling them the rats may be attracted to the area because of “fruit growing nearby.” The infestation issue was also discussed at a meeting of the Limerick Metropolitan District Council in October 2024, where it was disclosed that one family discovered “ten dead rats” in their attic. Rentokil and the HSE were called in to assess the situation, with both organisations attributing the presence of the rats to the rail works.
Political promises and inaction
Local politicians have failed to fulfill their promises, leaving families to face threats right outside their front doors without adequate support. During an election campaign, an unnamed councillor promised to help fix the issue, yet claimed ignorance post-election after they had won a seat. Limerick City East councillor, Fine Gael’s Sarah Kiely, commented that she has had “no response from Irish Rail to date, which is very disappointing. In previous months and years, Irish Rail and their team have been fantastic to engage and reply. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case currently on this particular issue.” She continued to express her concern for the residents of Rathbane and surrounding areas and hopes that the issue can be resolved soon.
A community under siege
The infestation has created a permanent sense of fear among residents. Some are unwilling or unable to take proactive measures, such as cutting back overgrown ivy, which serves as a haven for rats. But there’s only so much they can do. As Niamh says, “Irish Rail has to send someone to help. It can’t just be one bloke from the council coming, or his colleague to lay down poison or mend the place.”
While investigating this piece, we contacted Irish Rail for comment. We received a statement saying that “in October 2024, Iarnród Éireann engaged with a very small number of residents adjacent to our works on the Limerick to Foynes line who had reported issues with rodents. In addition to already existing bait boxes, further bait boxes were installed on the fence line, and we liaised with the residents concerned, including an on-site meeting to advise and assure them regarding ongoing rodent control measures. No evidence of rodent infestation issues in the project site and no evidence of discarded rubbish/food which could attract rodents were found. We have had no further reports from residents of any issues at this location.”
Calls for urgent action
Niamh and her neighbours are pleading for decisive action. They want Irish Rail and the council to collaborate on a comprehensive solution that goes beyond poison and traps. Without immediate intervention, the situation will continue to fester, threatening public health and leaving residents trapped in an unbearable cycle.
Niamh’s name was changed for privacy reasons. She says she has contacted Irish Rail several times, but what she describes as “to no avail.” She said she was scared to have her real name published after “asking for help so many times.”
A growing nationwide issue
Residents are afraid to go into their back gardens, and pets are kept indoors as the rats are “bigger than them.”
They have resorted to spending large sums of money on poison and traps, and council pest control efforts have proven insufficient. Rats are broadly recognised as Ireland’s most significant pest problem, posing both health and property risks to communities nationwide. The issue has grown more severe in recent years, with an alarming increase in rat infestations reported across the country. Rentokil, a leading pest control service, observed a 2.6% rise in rat-related callouts in September 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This trend highlights the persistent and growing challenge of rodent control, as urban development and climate factors continue to create favourable conditions for rats to thrive.