What’s the best way to tell area residents about plans for a new asylum shelter nearby?
The government should tell communities directly about plans for new asylum shelters, some activists and politicians say.
In Dublin, private inspectors have been brought in. An expert group has ruled out asking the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to do it instead.
“Ellis Quay is bad, really bad,” says Denise Jones. “It shouldn’t be open.”
“The safety of the accommodation needs to be uncompromising,” says Louisa Santoro, CEO of the Mendicity Institution.
The records should show why Dublin Fire Brigade issued enforcement proceedings against privately operated homeless hostels in the city.
One idea is to have the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) step in. Another is for councillors themselves to inspect hostels.
“So are we going to find out who runs the hostels?” says Louisa Santoro, the CEO of the Mendicity Institution, a homeless day centre.
Following the recommendations though would require an about-face by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) in how it runs its homeless services.
As of mid-February, Dublin Fire Brigade was engaging or had engaged with the council or service providers for 14 hostels in the city around issues with fire safety.
In a 2018 report, auditors flagged that Dublin City Council was not following the government’s rules.
Before 2018, the number of both private and charity-run beds grew. Since 2018, the trend has been different.
Meanwhile, at least six other homeless hostels in the city have no valid fire-safety certificates, once again prompting questions about standards and safety.
Finding providers of homeless accommodation is complex, says a council spokesperson. It’s looking for a consultant to advise on how to source it in line with procurement rules.
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