Concerns raised over alleged drug use at Kilkenny homeless hostel

Concerns have been raised over allegations around drug and alcohol use by residents at the Good Shepherd Centre in Kilkenny.

The CEO of The Good Shepherd will be invited before Housing Strategic Policy Committee later this year to address concerns around anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Eugene McGuinness told members of the Housing SPC that he was aware of ‘some disturbing and some serious allegations about drugs and alcohol been available’ at the centre.

“Drugs from my understanding are freely available there. I have serious concerns about how the place is been run,” he said.
Cllr Eugene McGuinness asked if it was possible to get figures regarding to the numbers of incidents of concern that have taken place at the centre in recent times.

The Independent councillor also said that there were ‘staffing issues especially at night’ adding that many of the people staying at the centre have ‘very complex needs’.

“It seems to be getting worse, I have heard harrowing stories,” added Cllr Eugene McGuinness.

Cllr Martin Brett said that the committee should ‘ask someone from the Good Shepherd Centre to come in at talk to us’.
Director of Housing at Kilkenny County Council, Mary Mulholland said that other stakeholders should be invited including Focus Ireland. Ms Mulholland also pointed out that the staffing of the centre comes under HSE regulations and said that staffing levels are prescribed by the HSE.

“We should look at ambulance and garda callouts and include a few other institutions. We need to look at it all, it is no different in a number of locations than it is in the Good Shepherd Centre, which is a homeless service and where complex cases will be prevalent,” she said adding that every service provider in the homeless sector should be included.

Chairman of the Housing SPC, Cllr Eamon Aylward said that the committee could invite CEO of the Good Shepherd Centre, Noel Sherry to the next meeting and members can put their questions to him and this was agreed by members. Ms Mulholland stressed that the HSE and members from the regional homeless services should be included.

Cllr Aylward remarked to the members that the relevant parties ‘need to show up’.
“They need to come in and let’s get some definite answers,” he added.

When contacted by The Kilkenny People The Good Shepherd Centre Kilkenny Mr Sherry said that the centre ‘has not been formally notified of the details of the recent Housing SPC to which you refer’.

“However, if there ever any complaints as regards anti-social behaviour or any other issues pertaining to the GSCK, we would welcome the public to engage with management here who will address their concerns.

“Homelessness is a very complicated social issue which the GSCK has been tackling since 1989. We’d thank the public for their support as we strive to provide solutions to people facing the most harrowing personal circumstances imaginable,” he added.