Brian O'Connell

What about private rental accommodation?

Is that very difficult to try and get?

Now you've got 100 people suddenly looking for accommodation in Kalarna.

Can you understand the government's decision?

There is and like Patrick Evison, the owner, said they tried where possible to help

source accommodation I mean it's in his interest as well because some of those living in the hotel also work in the hotel now and have done for the past few years and they've come to rely on them as very good employees but I suppose despite this uncertainty Patrick Evison the owner of the hotel in Killarney is confident there will be capacity in the area

Did you get a sense that societal mood was shifting?

Although I think one of the criticisms that people had was placing so many people in tourist areas and they felt that the impact that had on the economic spend on the street.

Yeah.

What they pointed out was that with all of these contracts, there is a 30-day no-fault termination clause that's available to the provider and to the department as well.

So in this case, the provider has chosen to terminate the contract

With the department we heard, the context is obviously there's changes coming down the tracks from summer onwards.

The department sent updates to residents who were affected to let them know this.

Residents who wish to continue to receive state-funded accommodation will be provided with a placement at a new location.

Couldn't get any insight into where that might be or when exactly residents will be told.

They say every effort is made to keep residents as local as possible.

However, it's not always possible.

They say it's open to people concerned to make

their own arrangements should they wish to stay in the current area.

But as you heard, up to 100 residents now looking for private accommodation in a town like Killarney, that's going to be very difficult.