People in some parts of Kerry have to leave their communities to access emergency accommodation if they become homeless.
Sinn Féin councillor Paul Daly has said Kerry County Council should provide emergency accommodation in each of the county’s municipal districts.
In Kerry, 68 people were in emergency accommodation at the end of the third quarter this year.
Cllr Daly put forward a motion at the recent council meeting, asking the local authority to provide accommodation for people who become homeless, in each Municipal District.
There are five Municipal Districts in Kerry; Listowel, Tralee, Castleisland/Corca Dhuibhne, Killarney, and Kenmare.
The council responded that it provides emergency homeless accommodation in seven facilities across the county.
Five facilities are in Tralee, with one in Killarney, and one in Listowel.
The council said this is currently sufficient to meet any homeless situation that may arise, but is kept under review.
Cllr Daly said his point is that people in the other MDs, ie Kenmare and Castleisland/Corca Dhuibhne, won’t be able to access homeless accommodation in their areas.
He said any such people will have to leave their hometown, their family support, possibly take their kids out of school, and move away from their work, many of whom may not have transport themselves.
The council’s Director of Housing, Niamh O’Sullivan, said the provision of homeless services continues to be challenging, and often cases require wraparound, support services which are only available in the bigger towns.
She said the provision of homeless accommodation is constantly under review, and the council is looking across all Municipal Districts.
