Progress made over emergency accommodation in Limerick

FIVE families continued to require emergency B&B/hotel accommodation in Limerick at the end of December last year.

According to Limerick City and County Council, this represents a 93 per cent reduction in the use of B&Bs and hotels as emergency accommodation for families in 2017 from its peak when there were more than 70 families supported by the Council’s Homeless Action Team (HAT).

The Council also claims to have made “significant progress” in addressing the reliance and use of B&B/ hotel accommodation for homeless families last year.

At this month’s meeting of Limerick City and County Council, Sinn Fein councillor Séighin Ó Ceallaigh asked if a plan is in place should hotels currently being highly paid to house Limerick’s homeless decide to evict them?

In response, senior executive officer Dave Hennessy explained that families are the primary users of hotel/B&B accommodation in emergency situations. The Department of Social Protection, operating through HAT, funds this locally.

by Alan Jacques

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alan@limerickpost.ie

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