Bank holiday weekend hotel bookings ‘pose risk to families requiring emergency accommodation’ – Ó Broin

Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD has expressed concern that a busy weekend for hotels in Dublin with the GAA games in Croke Park, may mean that some homeless families will have nowhere to go.

Deputy Ó Broin said:

“Hotels around Dublin will be at capacity this long weekend. This is coupled with the fact that some hotels are in the process of being refurbished and being made into family hubs, so there is even less availability.

“In a worst case scenario, if the emergency intake team and the Dublin Region Homeless Executive cannot find any hotel accommodation for these families, they are, as a last resort, sent to Garda stations.

“This is clearly an unacceptable situation both for the families involved and for the Gardaí who have no clear statutory duty to these families. We need to know what guidance is issued to the Gardaí in these circumstances and if Tusla is involved.

“Figures released to date have demonstrated that the flow of families into homelessness has not dwindled. May’s homeless data showed that there were 1,312 homeless families across the State.

“We still do not know if the situation is as stark for June as the homeless figures for this month are two weeks late and have not yet been published.

“Minister Eoghan Murphy must provide these figures as soon as possible and he must also indicate what guidance is provided to Gardaí for cases where homeless families present at their stations.”