Help will be available for homeless in Tipperary during Christmas

The homeless unit of Tipperary County Council will have an out of hours email address that will be manned all over Christmas.

However, the service offered to homeless people over the festive season will be very limited and will be available for emergency cases only, Breda Ryan, the council’s Acting Administrative Officer in Housing, told a meeting of Clonmel Borough District.

She was responding to comments made by council members, including Cllr Siobhán Ambrose, who had asked what provision was made for accommodation for homeless people when the office was closed.

Cllr Ambrose acknowledged the work of the council’s housing unit, and said people didn’t realise the level of engagement between the unit and homeless people.

Cllr Richie Molloy said there had been an increase in the numbers of homeless people in the Main Guard and at Market Place in Clonmel in the last 12 months.

It was a sad sight to see people in tents in the middle of the town at the Main Guard. He was worried that this would happen over Christmas, and he asked if there was a phone number they could call if this happened.

Deputy Mayor Pat English agreed that it was sad to see people in tents and sleeping rough around the town.

He too was worried about situations that might arise over Christmas.

Cllr English said that the staff dealing with homeless people did a good job.

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