Airbnb has targeted council employees with online adverts. Does that count as lobbying?
“Just because it’s digital, and not over coffee, doesn’t mean it’s not,” says Niamh Kirk, an associate professor at the University of Limerick.
homeless hostels
26 articles
Time and again, long-term tenants evicted and their homes turned into homeless accommodation
A spokesperson for the Dublin Region Homeless Executive said its priority was “to ensure there is an adequate provision of accommodation for people experiencing homelessness”.
Debate Over Who Should Inspect Homeless Hostels to Ensure They Meet Safety and Health Standards
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.
Residents Concerned About Fire Safety at Homeless Hostel in Smithfield
“Ellis Quay is bad, really bad,” says Denise Jones. “It shouldn’t be open.”
Council-Funded Homeless Hostels Breached Fire-Safety Standards in Multiple Ways, Records Show
“The safety of the accommodation needs to be uncompromising,” says Louisa Santoro, CEO of the Mendicity Institution.
Council Fails to Release Records on Fire Safety in Homeless Hostels, Despite Information Commissioner Rulings
The records should show why Dublin Fire Brigade issued enforcement proceedings against privately operated homeless hostels in the city.
As Council Seeks Private Company to Inspect Homeless Hostels, Some Suggest There’s a Better Way
One idea is to have the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) step in. Another is for councillors themselves to inspect hostels.
New Standards on Transparency and Staff Training for Private Homeless 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.
National Standards and Independent Inspections Needed for All Homeless Hostels, says Report from Oireachtas Committee
Following the recommendations though would require an about-face by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) in how it runs its homeless services.
Council Closes Homeless Hostels to Make Compliant with Fire-Safety Standards
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.
Public Accounts Committee to Look into How Homeless Services are Being Procured
In a 2018 report, auditors flagged that Dublin City Council was not following the government’s rules.
Data Shows a Shift Towards More Private Homeless Hostels
Before 2018, the number of both private and charity-run beds grew. Since 2018, the trend has been different.
In a Hostel on Ellis Quay, Homeless People Share Rooms With No Windows
Meanwhile, at least six other homeless hostels in the city have no valid fire-safety certificates, once again prompting questions about standards and safety.