Residents to picket housing project

ANGRY residents are preparing protest action following claims that a sheltered housing facility, that could be used for people such as ex-prisoners, was being developed in Thurles.

Town mayor Jim Ryan is leading a campaign to prevent the Novas housing association from using two converted houses on Mitchell Street for the facility.

He said residents are concerned dangerous categories of ex-prisoners could be housed in the new complex.

“The thing is people do not know what these houses are going to be used for — this is a very settled area and we know it will be used to house people with various addictions.

“Residents were not going to know about this until people were ready to move in, that is not fair for them or the people who will be housed,” he said.

The Limerick-based Novas housing association operates other units around the country.

Some offer emergency accommodation and others are used as half-way houses for people waiting for permanent moves or de-toxing from addiction troubles.

Its client base includes homeless people, asylum seekers, those with addiction problems and transitional housing for people with a criminal background being released from prison.

Last night, a second public meeting was held in the town.

Residents said they are preparing to picket the houses until the plans are aborted.

Mr Ryan said rumours circulating about the facility are being compounded by the conflicting information coming from official channels.

“We are being told it will house homeless people from Thurles itself. We would have no problem with that but there are not that many homeless people in Thurles.”

The Novas association has received €1 million to acquire the houses in Thurles. Its stated ambition is to eliminate housing problems for those experiencing social exclusion.

It was contacted yesterday but none of its management team was available to comment.