City council paying hotels millions to house homeless

Dublin City Council spent nearly €5 million in the third quarter of this year on homelessness services.

Some €2.44m was paid to hotels and other commercial accommodation providers to provide emergency accommodation for the homeless.

In addition, the council paid €2.5 million in the same month to organisations providing for the homeless including the Dublin Simon Community and the Peter McVerry Trust.

The highest amount received by any single hotel was paid to the Newlands Cross Hotel on the western outskirts of Dublin. It received just over €200,000 during July, August and September, or €2,175 per night, in homeless bed non-capitation payments.

Crisis

Dublin’s Lord Mayor Christy Burke said the council “is making millionaires out of some hotel owners because of the homeless crisis” and that it is an indication of the Government’s failure to deal with the issue.

“There is a lack of political will and action is needed,” he said.

Mr Burke said the money spent on hotel nights “is the price you pay to avoid having men, women and children walking the streets”.

There are between 600 and 700 children in emergency accommodation including hotels. “It is not ideal, but what is the alternative?” he said.

“I’m sure the money being paid to hotels would be sufficient to build proper accommodation for the homeless.”

The council’s figures show that Smorgs Ltd, the operator of the Travelodge brand in Ireland, received €133,782 over the period. Moran group’s Bewley’s hotel at Dublin airport received payments of €79,023.

The firm behind the Sunnybank hotel in Glasnevin received €157,225 over the three months. The Inn on the Liffey on the north quays received €105,635 while Newdara Ltd, trading as The Portobello, received €119,570 over the three months.

The Belvedere hotel, which is just off Parnell Square, received payments totalling €119,570 for the period, with Caulfield’s hotel on Dorset Street receiving €69,088.

Separate council figures show that the Dublin Simon Community received €810,206 to fund its work towards helping the homeless, with Depaul Trust Ireland receiving €797,541 under the same heading.

The Peter McVerry Trust received payments, including arrears, totalling €265,819 with Sofia Housing Association receiving €254,098, while Franciscan Social Justice Initiative received €222.352.