Council is investigating opening night-time emergency homeless shelter in Tipperary Town

Tipperary County Council is working to open 9 to 9 night-time emergency accommodation for homeless people in Tipperary Town.

The Council has examined a building in Tipperary with a view to providing this accommodation between the hours of 9pm and 9am for people who would otherwise sleep on the streets.

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“We have to get a structural survey done to see if it’s viable. If it’s not, we will keep pursuing options in Tipperary,” Shane O’Dwyer of the Council's Housing Section informed the Council’s September meeting in Clonmel last week.

The Senior Executive Officer was responding to Donohill Cllr John Crosse, who reported incidences of seeing homeless people sleeping in his village and in fields and called for a 9 to 9 service to be provided in Tipperary Town.

The Council already operates a 9 to 9 night-time accommodation for homeless people at three Open Front Door homes in Clonmel town.

The service provides showering facilities and food as well as a bed for clients, many of whom suffer from mental health and addiction problems.

Labour Cllr Fiona Bonfield asked if the Council has plans to provide a 9 to 9 service in Nenagh but was informed by Mr O’Dwyer that Tipperary Town was the Council’s next priority area to deliver this accommodation.

After Tipperary, he said the Council will look at elsewhere in the county where it’s most needed based on where people were reporting most to homeless services.

Meanwhile, Clonmel Cllr Siobhán Ambrose asked when day services will commence at Clonmel’s 9 to 9 homeless accommodation as she had seen the Council advertised for staff. Mr O’Dwyer informed her the commencement of these services was imminent.