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The increase in the number of rough sleepers on the streets of Kilkenny City was raised at a Joint Policing Committee meeting on Monday.
Councillor Joe Malone raised the issue and said he was aware of rough sleepers in the doorways, lanes and streets of Kilkenny adding that the issue needed to be addressed urgently.
Chief Superintendent Padraig Dunne told the meeting that the garda station is open 24 hours a day and anyone is welcome to come and sit in the public area if they need to take refuge during the cold snap.
Acting CEO of Kilkenny County Council said that there has been ‘a recent spike in rough sleeping’ adding that the housing department has been liasing with rough sleepers.
“During the winter months additional beds are made available to ensure that any person seeking shelter during cold or severe weather events can be accommodated.
“These severe weather beds are available and have been offered to all persons currently rough sleeping in Kilkenny. In some cases individuals have not availed of this service. All agencies in the county will continue to engage with any persons rough sleeping and to offer emergency accommodation where required, it should be noted that where a person chooses not to take up an offer of emergency accommodation the local authority can not require them to do so,” said a spokesperson for Kilkenny County Council.
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