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TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has said it would be “very difficult” to get the numbers sleeping rough on the streets of Dublin down to zero.
But he said that if all the authorities and agencies working to address homelessness got behind the same objective, he hoped the numbers could be reduced dramatically.
Discussing the death of Jonathan Corrie, who died overnight on Sunday in a doorway just metres from the gates of Leinster House, Kenny said he was “distressed” to hear of the man’s passing.
He also detailed the immediate steps being taken to find short-term accommodation for people — noting that 164 new emergency bed spaces would be coming on stream by early January.
The latest official count of ‘rough sleepers’ in the capital — taken last month — but the the figure at 168.
Kenny said “significant” funding had been given to NGOs working in the city.
And he added:
In regard to the issue of rough sleeping on the streets of Dublin —where the count has shown an increase in numbers — it’s not actually a question of allocation of money here.
“For instance, arrangements are now in place to expand the number of emergency bed spaces.
“There’s a total of 164 being sourced by Dublin City Council.
“38 of those are already in place. [There'll be] another 30 by the 8th of December — that’s later this week
“[There'll be] another 76 by the 15th of December, and a further 20 by the fifth of January.
Kenny said there were also 655 vacant units in the hands of Dublin City Council that are being refurbished and returned to use, and said work had started on 245 of those projects.
He also highlighted the work being done by the “Housing First Service” — run by Focus Ireland and the Peter McVerry Trust — to help people move from hostels into longer-term accommodation.
Environment Minister Alan Kelly is to host an emergency summit on homelessness on Thursday — to be attended by the mayors of the four Dublin local authorities, NGOs, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, and others.
The Taoiseach said that arising out of that meeting, “we can reflect on what’s the best impact, what’s the best effect that — considering the monies that are being spent here through the NGOs — that rough sleepers in the first place can be given a roof over their heads and a place to stay”.
From speaking to people genuinely — some of these cases are so complex that it’s very difficult to be actually able to say that you can get all the people off the streets. Some of them have particular problems.
Addressing the Ceann Comhairle, he recalled “a good lady who used to sleep over there in a box in Molesworth Street way back in the mid 1970s”, adding that “despite the efforts of all the agencies at that time” it was very difficult to persuade her to move into a hostel or other emergency accommodation.
He said that, given the number of vacant spaces in the city, if people united behind one objective “the numbers of rough sleepers in the city should be very very limited”.
First published 4.21 pm
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R.I.P.
When Bowies creative output started to suffer in the 80′s, Prince came in and filled that void magnificently. I always viewed Prince in similar terms to Bowie in the way they challenged the mainstream constantly with their music and image. One crumb of comfort can be taken from his premature demise and that is the thousands of unreleased material he wrote over the years and which fans can look foward to hearing in the future.
On probably his worst album ‘Never Let Me Down’, Bowie sang the line : “The Little Red Corvette has passed me by” …
‘Least greatest’ album I think is more appropriate :)
What is the obsession with celebrities when they pass away?We should be mourning scientists,Doctors,professors and not musicians.A note in a newspaper is worthy,but countless stories one after the other is not on.We are taught to worship these people now and obsess.Sad day man passess away,hey over it.it Sums up society today,willfully ignorant and brainwashed by tv and radio.
You didnt have to pay attention to the article’s on him you know, you have a choice here Lee.
Says Lee Oswald
Yes but you know I have to give my 2 cents here…if I don’t highlight the pure ignorance and lack of common sense who else will?
What’s up Elma?
Musicians of this magnitutde are mourned simply because music means so very much to people; we grow with it, it grows with us, it relieves our stress, it gives us emotional release and it has very positive influences on our energy, body and brain. Prince was a musical genius, many people are upset, obviously not you Lee but thats okay. Maybe you’ve never heard music before
The reason for this is that more people would find Purple Rain to be more emotional and uplifting than Panck’s Constant.
Says the lad called after a dead Assassin????
I think if you did a wee bit of research you would realise I was not an assassin.I had a poor shot ,I could not off pulled of the assassination due to this fact.But you believe the Warren commission,which in itself was flawed from the day it was set up.
Back and to the left, back and to the left.
I sense a slight bit of sarcasm there Elma…The fact is shots could not be done in the time scale suggested.
I’m actually with you on this one tbh.
Thank you Elma,I’m not saying I was not involved.But I certainly did not act alone.I never got the call…
Is this worthy of a separate news story?
Maybe not, but the people who own the website think so, and it’s a free world.
Using your thumbs as a guide, it would appear about 80% thinkn yes it is.
“One day of seven we’ll die”
Gotta get those clicks
Goodnight sweet Prince
RTE government and cronie buddies would not represent the independent freedom loving Prince. They might like his music but they certainly wouldn’t be down with his stances on position on certain things. Might I suggest that PrimeTime do a piece on Chemtrails a subject which Prince was vocal about ???
Maybe they could have played ” something in the water does not compute”…
I agree Mr mango…but as you can see from all the red thumbs you are gettingn most people like to be spoon Fed from the likes of rte news.They hold comfort in their Irish independent,rte news and mor ing Ireland lol.Over educated but lack independent thought and the will to question authority.
Mass media educated sheeple, fleeced of free thought, and totally oblivious to the wool being pulled down over their eyes.
Good work RTE. good work
Thats cool,Prime Time taking a leaf outta Newsnight’s book with a lighter credits and a nice music tribute. Too many rte shows are too stiff and serious
Prince, like most of us like minded, would spit on Rte and it’s lie through omission policies. Prime time is a gate keeper like the war on drugs. They proclaim to be tackling the problem when they really are helping guide the outrage which is the brainwashed masses goto first emotion in reaction to the corruption of their overlords. But even Prince’s soul can’t replace the ones Rte & it’s minions already sold to the devil.!
Surprised anyone in RTE has enough soul to appreciate Prince. Disturbing to realise I have something in common with the government droids in Donnybrook
I wonder did David McCullogh manage to stay awake to hear the tune?
They should have faded the music in rather than just blasting it straight out. It’s a nice sentiment all the same.
Pity RTE is shite for the vast majority of the time.
Last weekthe bodies of two more young males were fished out of Galway Bay and Leo the Loo Head has decided he can afford to tske €14m from mental health.There are plenty more tragedies closer to home Prime Time could theme song, maybe “Suicide is Painless”.but of course it’s not, neither is is victimless.
Prince was a fan of Dick Gregory. He had strong opinions about society and politics and would not have been a fan of state owned and government controlled propaganda tv.
And I’m sure he would appreciate you hijacking the fact they played his music to commemorate his death as an excuse to have a rant. Not.
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