The ban on non-indigenous people building houses in Co Clare has now spread to Co Limerick.
The Limerick County Development Plan, passed by the council in June, restricts single house building in Adare, Patrickswell, Mungret, Clarina, Crecora, Ballyneety, Castleconnell and the surrounding countryside.
Planning permission will only be given to sons and daughters of land-holders and to anyone living there before 1990, or people prepared to restore old buildings.
Residents or their children will only be allowed to build on sites if they have lived in the area for a minimum of nine years, or are involved in agriculture or related rural activities, according to the plan.
A Fine Gael councillor, Mr Richard Butler, claims the plan is illegal and unconstitutional, and foreigners could not be turned down under EU law.
A spokesman for Limerick County Council said yesterday these restrictions applied to only 10 per cent of Co Limerick. He pointed out that over the past 20 years 3,500 houses had been built with septic tanks in this pressure area extending six miles from Limerick city.
In all other areas of Co Limerick single housing will generally be allowed, subject to normal planning conditions, he said.