Nursing home given go ahead for homeless addiction service
By Aideen O'Flaherty
PLANS for the former Glencarrig Nursing Home in Firhouse to become a rehabilitation and recovery-orientated family hub have been given the greenlight by South Dublin County Council, however The Echo understands that there are plans for the council’s decision to be appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Depaul, a cross-border homelessness charity that also provides homeless addiction services and homelessness and criminal justice services, lodged an application with the council for a Section 5 Declaration of Exemption last February for the change of use from a nursing home to a residential rehabilitation care centre.
The former Glencarrig Nursing home.
The local authority declared it exempt on March 27, but according to Fine Gael councillor Brian Lawlor, there are plans for an objection against this decision to be lodged with An Bord Pleanála.
Cllr Lawlor told The Echo: “There are a lot of residents in Firhouse that have concerns as these kinds of facilities are very concentrated on that road.
“It’s too concentrated, no other place would have this kind of concentration.
“There’s no issue with the hub itself, it’s the concentration of these places on one stretch of road.”
A spokesperson for Depaul told The Echo that the purpose of the hub will be “to provide accommodation to women and children with the long-term aim of aiding them into their own long-term accommodation.”
They added: “The service will be communal in nature and will take a therapeutic, recovery-orientated approach in supporting families who have been referred to this service.
“This service will cater for a maximum of 13 families. It is important to stress that the service is abstinent based and will support families who are committed to a recovery orientated lifestyle.
“Depaul will make every effort to ensure local residents and resident groups are engaged with and kept informed on the status of the service and when the service will become operational.”
A spokesperson for An Bord Pleanála told The Echo that they have not received an appeal in relation to the former site of Glencarrig Nursing Home, however appeals can be submitted within four weeks of the council’s decision date.
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