MAYOR John Moran’s expert group set up to tackle homelessness and drug addiction in Limerick is continuing to progress its work in supporting individuals and families.
The group, co-chaired by Aontú councillor Sarah Beasley and Mayor of Limerick John Moran, comprises of officials from Limerick City and County Council’s Housing Support Services team, An Garda SÃochána, the HSE, approved housing bodies, researchers from University of Limerick (UL), and others from the voluntary sector.
The group focuses on tackling street homelessness and linked dynamics to drug use across Limerick.
A statement from the Mayor’s office said that the group has been engaging in stakeholder mapping and data gathering, led by group member Dr Laura Keyes at UL’s Centre for Implementation Research (CIRcUL).
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Dr Keyes, who herself ran in the inaugural Limerick mayoral election, said the collaboration between the UL and the Council demonstrates the power of evidence-informed policy in driving meaningful change.
“By bringing together academic expertise and local insight, we’re ensuring that decisions are grounded in research and focused on real-world impact,” she commented.
A series of workshops held with stakeholders, including those with lived experiences of addiction and homelessness, were held in recent weeks, aiming to generate solutions to inform future strategies, policies, and interventions in Limerick and further afield.
Cllr Sarah Beasley expressed her gratitude to the volunteers supporting the task force since its inception late last year.
“Helping the homeless and the addicted has been a passion of mine for the last 10 years, even before my election. Together, we are working towards meaningful, lasting change,” she said.
A questionnaire intended to be completed by people living in street homelessness has also been developed by the group. This questionnaire, the Mayor’s office said, is unique and believed to be the first of its kind in the country completed by people directly affected by street homelessness.
Mayor Moran welcomed the continued progress of the cross-agency group, adding: “It isn’t about a short-term fix, though. We want to take our time to understand root causes through data, listening to those who are experiencing homelessness and addiction, and to ensure our policy is formed by hearing those voices. But we remain focused and determined to find a better solution for Limerick.”