By Michelle Crean

It's hoped that the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre will get a new permanent home on the Ross Road after a site was generously donated by a local family.

The Kerry charity is now seeking planning permission to develop a bespoke counselling centre in Reen on the Ross Road, after the donation was made by the Clarke family.

The construction of a centre like the one planned has been a long-term ambition of the organisation, the year the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre celebrates 30 years in existence.

The centre now awaits the decision of the planning authority and if granted, the build would take approximately 14 months to complete.

Monies to finance the development will be sourced from State funds and charitable donations. The Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre will also continue to deliver services from Tralee and other outreach locations as needed.

“The new building has been designed with the clients we service core and central in terms of their individual needs," Centre Director, Vera O’Leary, said, outlining the significance of this development.

"The proposed facility will offer our professional and dedicated team of counsellors and support team a permanent home where we can continue to provide safe, confidential and free counselling to survivors of all types of sexual violence and support for non-abusing partners, parents, relatives and friends. This is a milestone moment for the centre, with a stated ambition of ours to develop such a facility for many years.”

Chairperson of the Board of Management of the Centre, Brid Mc Elligott in welcoming this development also acknowledged the kindness of the Clarke family.

“On behalf of all stakeholders involved with the centre I would like to acknowledge the generosity and kindness of the Clarke family, in particular Matt Clarke who has championed this proposed development from the outset. Without this philanthropic gesture realising our own building would not have been possible. In supporting our clients and their families on their journey of recovery, it will massively assist our efforts when we can operate from a client tailored, bespoke facility.”