Dublin City Council housing chiefs have owned-up to shocking failings that has seen dozens sleeping rough in the Capital every night while shelter beds lie empty.
But they say they plan to make amends and won’t let poor and vulnerable people have to bed down on the cold streets after they lock their often half-empty hostels again.
Stupid red tape and bureaucracy saw homeless people refused a bed during the recent freezing weather because they weren’t from Dublin.
A searing PrimeTime investigation on RTE earlier this month exposed the shameful practice as it showed homeless people sleeping rough after their refusals.
DRHE (Dublin Regional Homeless Executive) officials are appearing before the Oireachtas housing committee this morning to explain how the sad situations arise.
Deputy chief executive, Brendan Kenny has told committee members in a statement this morning that they are actively working to resolve the problems.
He said: “the programme showed how individuals who cannot or will not return to take up services in their own local authority are more vulnerable to rough sleeping.
“The DRHE fully accepts the Minister’s position that there is a balance to be struck between necessary assessment and ensuring that nobody should have to sleep rough while awaiting for this assessment/eligibility to be clarified and completed.
“We accept that we did not get that balance right in a small number of cases over recent months.
“We will ensure that all such people will be offered temporary emergency accommodation, if at risk of having to sleep rough, subject to availability with the necessary assessment carried out over the following few days.
“To this end when we have available beds, we will offer temporary accommodation until we can contact the local Authority of origin and coordinate a response.”
