by Alan Jacques
PLANNING should not be granted for new homeless accommodation across from Thomond House in Thomondgate.
That’s the opinion of Limerick Fianna Fail TD Willie O’Dea, who believes that the area cannot cope with another homeless shelter across from the women’s refuge on Brown’s Quay.
He made the comments in response to a planning application by Associated Charities Trust (Thomond House) to build a multi-storey apartment building comprising 18 one-bedroom apartments, recreational space, parking facilities and ancillary accommodation together with associated site development works.
“Local residents are already at their wits end dealing with anti-social behaviour caused by some of the residents in Thomond House, never mind a new facility being opened across the road in derelict houses known locally as Collins Cottages. As it is, it’s not unusual for children to come upon drug related paraphernalia, left strewn around by some of the residents of Thomond House,” Deputy O’Dea told the Limerick Post.
“In recent years, Thomond House moved out all the older long time residents and replaced them with younger more volatile clients, and some of these have engaged in serious anti-social behaviour to the detriment of the neighbourhood.”
While he concedes that there is a need for more homeless accommodation in the city, he maintains Thomondgate isn’t a suitable site due to the high concentration of homeless and sheltered accommodation in that area already.
“In short, Thomondgate is overloaded with these facilities.
“If local residents wish to object or make an observation on the planning application, they must do so in writing to The Planning Office, Limerick City and County Council, Patrick Street, Limerick by Wednesday July 22, accompanied by a fee of €20 and quoting planning reference number 15/432. The decision is due on the application by August 12, 2015,” he explained.
Labour Party member Tom Shortt who lives 50 yards from the site, maintains that some of the opposition to the proposal is based on misinformation. He said that there is also support based on understanding that the Thomond House proposal is a opportunity to see badly needed development going ahead to reverse decades of dereliction and to improve the appearance and image of the area.
“These sites at a busy entry and exit point to the city from Kileely, Moyross, Meelick and Parteen have been derelict for 25 years and the deterioration of both sites over such a long time is demoralising, particularly for the residents of Thomondgate who live close by, as they are an eyesore and project a negative image of the area,” Mr Shortt commented.
“I have supported the project consistently, to see the development going ahead in order to improve the environment in the area, to provide jobs in construction and to provide homes during a period when there is a crisis in homelessness,” he added.
Limerick City and County Council pointed out that it has a long association with Thomond House in terms of the delivery of homeless services to one of the most marginalised groups in the county. Vulnerable females have been resident in the emergency accommodation at Thomond House since the early 1990’s.
“At Deputy O’Dea’s request, the Council and the HSE met with local residents to help resolve concerns in relation to Thomond House earlier this year,” a council spokesman explained.
The proposed development at Brown’s Quay previously had planning permission, which was revised to take into account new guidelines issued by the OPW. The development is not classified as a homeless facility and Associated Charities Trust own and manage a number of such independent living units within the Limerick Metropolitan area.
“Limerick City and County Council’s Home and Social Development Department supports the project in terms of developing a site which has been derelict for a significant period. The new development will provide a major lift to the area in this regard.
“The local authority feels the most important reason for supporting the project, and as Deputy O’Dea has himself has acknowledged in recent times, is the current lack of quality housing in the Limerick Metropolitan area. This project will deliver 18 one-bed apartments.”
