Tenants of the Loreto Convent Estate in Killarney are set to stage a protest at a meeting of Kerry County Council in Tralee on November 24.

The protest, organised in conjunction with the tenants' union CATU (Community Action Tenants Union), is demanding an immediate end to the threatened evictions that could leave 14 families homeless.
The eviction threat comes from Xerico LTD, a subsidiary of the LRC Group, which manages the properties.
The tenants and CATU are calling on the Government to provide emergency funding to Kerry County Council to allow the local authority to purchase the property for use as social or Cost Rental housing.
CATU members plan to attend the KCC budget meeting on November 24 to speak to councillors and request their support for the demands.
The plight of the residents was formally raised at Wednesday’s Killarney Municipal District meeting by two councillors, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae and Cllr Brendan Cronin.
Cllr Healy-Rae asked for an update on the Loreto Chapel Estate where all residents are facing eviction, while Cllr. Cronin asked what actions Kerry County Council has taken to assist the 14 families affected by the eviction notices.
Kerry County Council responded, acknowledging the issue at the private development and confirming a housing clinic was arranged for residents on November 4th and 5th. Those who attended received advice on potential housing solutions based on their individual circumstances.
The Council confirmed it will explore both the Tenant in Situ Scheme and the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ Scheme where applicable. However, the reply noted that for the Tenant in Situ scheme to be considered, all other housing solutions must be exhausted, the landlord must be willing to sell to the Council, and the tenants must be in receipt of social housing supports. The Council also plans to contact Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to explore other options.
Michael Sheehan, CATU’s Munster organiser, expressed deep concern over the evictions: "It is unacceptable that Xerico/LRC can evict tenants in the pursuit of profits with no regards for tenants wellbeing or the wider community. We are requesting that the government step in with emergency funding for Kerry County Council, so they can purchase the homes to be used as social housing/Cost rentals."
CATU Kerry is urgently appealing to the community to join the protest on the 23rd, stating, “It is unacceptable that tenants are forced at a whim to up sticks and move their entire lives so an international investment fund can make a little more profit.”