Cappaghmore says no
By Maurice Garvey
RESIDENTS gathered for a protest over the weekend following the announcement of proposals for a homeless hub for families to be located at the former Cappaghmore Nursing Home in Clondalkin.
Proposals are to provide 13 rooms “suitable for small families”, according to South Dublin County Council, and also a range of supports including “24/7 on site management”.
Residents protesting over plans for a homeless hub in Cappaghmore
The former nursing home consists of two houses, and it is understood the properties were sold last year on the private market.
Plans submitted to the council by Eria Cúram Ltd, seek amendments to a previous grant of permission in 2015 to Clondalkin Nursing Home, for a change of use of part of the first floor to create two additional bedrooms, along with alterations.
Company records for Ballyfermot based Eria Cúram, whose principal activity is in residential nursing care, list it’s Directors as Cheryl Kavanagh and Luke Keeler, an Irish professional boxer.
When contacted by The Echo, the company said they did not wish to comment on the proposal at this time.
In a statement to The Echo, Cappaghmore residents said they are “outraged by the lack of consultation”.
“We feel it’s an unsuitable location for a hub in the middle of a small, quiet residential housing estate which is already home to a large 32-bed nursing home and three St John of God homes.”
The group said there were “perplexed by the planning system” citing the previous nursing home which was forced to reduce its bed capacity from 25 to 20 to comply with HIQA regulations.
“What regulations apply here that it can accommodate 13 families, potentially 50 plus occupants into a property which was originally two houses designed for two families,” said the residents group.
South Dublin County Council said they received a proposal for a “high quality family hub” in an area “without any such facilities at present”. When asked by The Echo how many families will be housed there, the council said the proposal “provides for 13 rooms suitable for small families and will include a range of supports to assist both the living circumstances of families and the progression of these families from homelessness into secure tenancies.
“The facility is due to open in the coming weeks and will further reduce the number of families in homeless services who are currently in emergency accommodation without the supports that can be provided in a family hub.”
The Cappaghmore residents group said they are “disappointed in the council, the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) and the Housing Minister” for their response to the homeless crisis.
“Is it deemed progress, the move from emergency accommodation to homeless hub, with families remaining crammed into one room. It is for these reasons and for many more practical issues, such as parking, lack of recreational space, concerns about integration that Cappaghmore says no.”
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