No suitable premises identified for homeless hub for single people

NO SUITABLE premises has been identified in the Clondalkin area for use as a homeless hub for single people.

There are 350 bed spaces supported by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive available to homeless households in South Dublin.

The most recent figures from November 2022, show that there was a record-high 11,542 people accessing State-funded emergency accommodation.

Out of the 8,048 adults accessing local authority managed emergency accommodation nationwide, 5,655 (70 percent) were living in emergency accommodation in Dublin.

There are 3,494 children accessing emergency accommodation.

The Dublin Region Health Executive (DRHE) was established in response to homelessness in Dublin, with the four local authorities sitting on it – including South Dublin County Council.

Cllr Francis Timmons raised a motion at the recent area committee meeting of Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas reaffirming the need for crisis single bed accommodation and seeking additional funding to establish such in the Clondalkin area.

This was the 11th time that Cllr Timmons raised a motion on the issue since 2014.

“We’ve a duty as elected councillors to ensure that the needs of every citizen is met,” Cllr Timmons told the council chamber.

“Not withholding the work that the council do on this but there is a gap, and the gap is emergency accommodation – this side.

“I appreciate we have Peter McVerry’s place up in Tallaght but we need something in the Clondalkin area, it’s a need there and it’s been there a number of years.”

Cllr Timmons acknowledged that the motion may not be the “most popular” and that “opposition” is inevitable but pleaded for councillors to “stand together” as he feels there has been “no progress” since 2014.

“This is way too important to play politics with. These are people’s lives and these are people at their most vulnerable,” Cllr Timmons says.

Cllr William Carey highlighted that there is a proposal set to come before the council in relation to the establishment of an emergency accommodation hub in North Clondalkin – which was met with local opposition.

The council stated that it is “still committed to the provision of homeless services facilities for both singles and families in areas North of the Naas Road”.

“Any suitable properties have to go through a tender process managed by the DHRE and there have been a number of these tenders completed in the last couple of years,” the council said.

“Unfortunately no suitable facility for single homeless clients has been submitted during these tenders, however the Council will continue to consider any suitable proposals that arise.”

It was mentioned that the old RIC Building could serve as a homeless hub for “single men” but there are issues around identifying the owner of the property.

Cllr Timmons urged councillors to bring forward proposals for sites in the Clondalkin area that may be suitable as there has not been a response to tenders.

“At what point do you say ‘right we’ll have to do this ourselves’… either by renting a space, buying a space, building a space,” Cllr Eoin Ó Broin added.

Council management then asked councillors to let them know if they come across any sites worth investigating, at which point they will be assessed for suitability.

“In relation to the funding, there has been funding earmarked there,” the council said.

“DRHE will be funding staff, service costs and running costs.”

South Dublin County Councillors agreed to the motion proposed by Cllr Timmons, which urges the council to raise the issue with Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien TD.