There no accommodation available for homeless people in the Killarney Municipal District area due to the shortage of suitable facilities but Kerry County Council has stressed that it is actively seeking to address the situation and continues to explore a number of options.
Officials were responding to a call from Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, who asked the local authority to consider using modular housing in Killarney in order to provide accommodation for people presenting as homeless.
“It is unsuitable and inappropriate that the only option available to homeless people in Killarney and from Killarney is in Tralee,” she said.
Owing to the geographical scale of the county, Kerry County Council said it has taken steps to provide accommodation in a number of the larger towns.
Through the existing available accommodation, there is access to specialised facilities that cater specifically for clients who are battling significant addiction issues. Another facility caters for clients transitioning from various forms of treatment, including for addictions and mental health issues.
“Many of the cases involve other underlying causes or related considerations and require a holistic and cross-service approach,” officials said.
The council said the accommodation type is mixed, reflecting the varying needs of the range of clients who can access services.
Emergency accommodation across the county is provided through a number of different service providers, including a mix of approved housing bodies and privately owned multi-room facilities such as hostels and bed and breakfast facilities.
Council officials said they will continue to engage private service providers in the Killarney Municipal District area.
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