COUNCILLORS ARE trying to force the North Tipperary county manager to withdraw support for the setting up of the first shelter for homeless people in the area.
Seventeen of the 21 elected members of the county council have signed a Section 140 resolution under the Local Government Act to force the manager, Terry Ó Niadh, to withdraw the council's support for the shelter proposed for Mitchell Street, Thurles.
Cllr Denis Ryan, (FG) chairman of the council's homeless forum, said he could not "in all conscience" implement the council homeless strategy in other towns in North Tipperary if he backed the resolution to withdraw council support for the Thurles project. "Our job is to implement our homeless strategy which has been passed by the council."
Cllr Seán Creamer (Lab) also opposed the resolution. Mr Ó Niadh said the council had a legal obligation to provide housing for homeless people. If the Section 140 resolution was passed, he could not consider himself bound by it.
Independent councillor Jim Ryan said there had been a "severe lack" of communication with residents of Mitchell Street on the plans to locate the shelter in their area. Cllr John Kennedy (Lab) said consultation with the residents was non-existent.
Councillors are to seek further legal opinion before deciding on whether to press ahead with moving the Section 140 resolution to force the council to withdraw its support for the shelter.