Annual Report 2005 - English Version ( pdf file - 3340 kb in size)

Limerick County Council Annual Report 2005plan for the refurbishment of Sharwood & CastleviewEstates in Newcastle West is progressing with theinput and approval of local residents and electedmembers. The Department of the Environment,Heritage & Local Government has agreed funding ofalmost €2.5 million in total and it is anticipated thatthe first phase of these works will commence in early2006.Traveller Accommodation 2005The Council continued to accommodate membersof the Travelling Community and 18 families wereassisted by the Council in this regard including 13who were offered permanent accommodation. Workcommenced on two Traveller Specific Accommodationprojects in Castletroy and Clondrinagh Halting Siteswhere an overall total of 21 bays will be provided. Thescheme comprising of 7 No. bays and a communalfacility in Castletroy was completed in December.Emergency accommodation was also provided inClonmacken following a tragic fire accident in April,2005.Two Storey Houses at the Forts, DoonA new Traveller Accommodation Programme wasadopted by the Council on 28th February 2005 which isin respect of the period 2005-2008. Families continuedto receive support from the Council’s Social Workersand other housing related services. The Local TravellerAccommodation Consultative Committee met on fiveoccasions during the year and considered a rangeof issues including the Traveller AccommodationProgramme for the period 2005 –2008.Art Feature at Galeside Housing Development, AtheaHomeless ServicesThe Council in partnership with the Health ServicesExecutive (Mid West) adopted a Homeless Strategy forthe County in consultation with the voluntary sector inDecember, 2001. A Homeless Forum was establishedas a result of the strategy and is representative of allappropriate sectors and considers issues pertainingto homelessness in the county. The Homeless Forummet on 6 occasions and discussed a range of issuesincluding the preparation of a new strategy for theperiod 2006 – 2008.Another provision of the strategy is that a HomelessPersons Unit be established in the Council offices toprovide supports and advice to homeless or potentiallyhomeless persons. In 2005 this unit worked with 143persons who were or were likely to become homeless.A large number of these people were either housedby the Council and/or voluntary housing associationsor were able to source private rented accommodationwith the assistance of the Homeless Persons Unit.Housing Development at Limeyard, Pallaskenry58