Decision on halfway house for alcoholics deferred

A DECISION on whether a controversial halfway house for recovering alcoholics can be built has been deferred for another three months, during which time those behind the project hope to allay fears of locals.

More than 50 people have objected to plans by the voluntary Clara Foundation to build a 10-bed rehabilitation and treatment centre at Station Road, Millstreet amid fears the organisation will start to treat drug addicts there.

Anthony Barry, a spokesman for the objectors, said the Clara Foundation’s mission statement was to treat chemically-dependent’ people, which encompassed drug users. He said it took five weeks and their objections before anybody from the foundation informed them of their plans. This lack of communication, he added, did nothing to allay locals’ fears.