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RAILINGS: New railings have been installed at a business premises on Beech Road this week to discourage rough sleepers from the area.

EXCLUSIVE

By Sean Moriarty

Three of five homeless people in Killarney town have accepted help from State agencies. Last Friday afternoon, Kerry County Council removed materials from a location on Beech Road following a request from An Garda Síochána.

Despite the best efforts of Council housing staff and elected councillors, the rough sleepers, until now, had refused any offers of help. However, by Wednesday three of the five people had accepted offers of help while two remain on the street.

Every evening a Council official drives by Beech Road, where they sleep in a sheltered doorway, and offers them help.

“The Council is aware of two individuals who are currently rough sleeping in Killarney town. The Council does not normally comment on individual cases but the Council can confirm that its homeless outreach services have been engaged with these individuals for some time including on a nightly basis over recent times and particularly during this weather period. Despite this engagement and the availability of emergency safe and secure accommodation all offers of assistance and accommodation have been refused,” a Council official told the Killarney Advertiser.

Kerry County Council provides a range of supports and services for people in need of emergency accommodation and has sufficient capacity to meet the needs of those requiring emergency accommodation.

“Ultimately however it is a matter of individual choice as to whether a person engages with services and whether they choose to avail of accommodation available,” added the Council official.

New railings have also been installed at a business premises on Beech Road this week to discourage rough sleepers from the area.