Only a tiny percentage of Tralee's housing needs are being met, despite a surge in applications to the local authority, it has emerged. There has also been an increase in the number of transient homeless in Co Kerry's largest town.
Labour councillor, Ms Maeve Spring said 79 housing units coming on line represented only eight per cent of Tralee's needs of over 1,000 applicants.
With 544 qualified applicants already on the list the town had seen a further 464 new applicants since March of last year.
Town clerk, Mr John Breen, said the number of new applications represented "phenomenal figures" for the town. However, the real housing needs had to be established, he said.
"We have a scheme of 34 houses and six people have refused these houses already," he said.
The council's refusal policy, means that if a person refused accommodation twice they are off the list, he warned.
In addition only 20 per cent of Tralee's private landlords had registered with the local authority, Mr Breen said. The council is actively pursuing unregistered landlords.
A new housing investigating officer has been appointed to Kerry County council, with responsibility for assessment and making recommendations for allocation.
The start of the summer has also seen an increase in the numbers of transient homeless. In all, 16 people have presented themselves as homeless this month. They include people from Cavan, Nenagh, Tralee and Belfast as well as South Africa, Canada, France and England.