Dublin councils are to look at buying or building homeless hostels
“We have an over-reliance on the private sector, it is expensive, it is poor value for money,” says Mary Hayes, director of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive.
These were some of the issues councillors discussed at a meeting of the Balbriggan/Rush-Lusk/Swords Area Committee last Thursday.
“They are trying to get rid of the Travellers and put them in settled houses,” says Kathleen Keenan. “If we integrate, our culture will be gone.”
Despite areas of high need, Fingal consistently ranks near the bottom, when comparing ratios of the more affordable community crèches to costlier private ones, in council areas.
“We’re at a point now in time where a lot of the lands are zoned for housing, but we need facilities like this provided in tandem with homes.”
Adding more flights and passengers would mean more greenhouse gas emissions, planning documents submitted last month by airport operator DAA show.
Quadri Lawal says his commute to work at the airport takes about 20 minutes by car, or three times as long via a roundabout bus journey.
If the prices are higher than promised, “It will be a massive betrayal for the local community, for first-time buyers,” says Social Democrats Councillor Paul Mulville.
“Getting into the city centre is an absolute nightmare, and I’ve had to resort to taking a taxi a couple of times.”
“Due to a lot of people moving to Lucan and Blanchardstown … we decided to move with the flow” from Camden Street in the city, says owner Farhan Abbas.
The option will be considered as part of a study now being carried out by consultants, said a spokesperson for the National Transport Authority.
These were two of the issues county councillors discussed at their December monthly meeting.
An audit of playgrounds in the county found gaps in Loughshinny, Portrane, Oldtown, Hazelbury Park and, possibly, Hartstown Park.