Plans have been lodged by St Vincent de Paul to convert a former B&B on Ennis's Clare Road into a hostel for the homeless.
The need for a hostel was identified in 1998 when the charity carried out a survey that showed that over a year more than 200 people presented themselves at Ennis cathedral due to homelessness.
Since then two people have died sleeping rough in Ennis, and the latest statistics from Clare County Council show that there are 16 homeless people being permanently accommodated in hotels or B&Bs. Four people are sleeping rough in Ennis with B&Bs not an option.
The cost of purchasing Laurel Lodge and refurbishing it to accommodate 13 men is €2.1 million.
Chairman of the council's special policy committee for housing, Cllr Joe Arkins (FG), said yesterday he expected the first occupants of the hostel to be in place early in the New Year.
The hostel is to be staffed by 14 people, and it will operate 24 hours per day and 365 days per year.
