From top: Fine Gael Dublin City Councillor Kate O’Connell and a leaflet that was circulated in the Baggot Street area of Dublin in August 2013
The Irish Times reports this morning that Dublin City Council has approved plans to turn the former Longfield Hotel on Fitzwilliam Street into a homeless hostel.
It will be run by the Simon Community, which plans to close its Harcourt Street shelter once the hostel on Fitzwilliam Street is ready to be opened.
Olivia Kelly, in this morning’s Irish Times, reports:
“A report by city council chief executive Owen Keegan said the council received 63 submissions in relation to its plans to convert Longfield’s Hotel for use as a homeless hostel, one of which was “fully supportive”.
Several raised concerns about potential antisocial behaviour, and the safety of pedestrians and property owners. The “temptations” close to the location, including a “gambling casino”, public houses, nightclubs, and shops selling alcohol, were highlighted.”
Further to this…
Fine Gael Cllr Kate O’Connell just referred to homelessness as a “buzz issue” when opposing the location of a homeless facility
— Cllr Michael O’Brien (@mobrien1975) February 2, 2015
Ye may have heard @KateOConnell6‘s description at tonight’s @DubCityCouncil meeting: homelessness is the buzz word nowadays, all the rage. — Cllr. John Lyons (@JohnLyons2014) February 2, 2015
Alternatively…
Previously: Finally
Former Georgian hotel to be converted into homeless shelter (Olivia Kelly, Irish Times)
if 300k per bed is the correct figure then the people supporting the spend must be on some buzz.
The most expensive 5-star hotels have been trading at around €150,000 per bedroom (and there’s likely to be a double or two twin beds in most rooms) and it’s not been unusual to see 3-stars trading at €10-25,000 a bedroom.
As far as I can see, Kate is bang on the money with her criticism. We need more of her type on DCC.
Gwan the Kate.
Tbf, ignoring the awful ‘buzz issue’ bit, she does have a point about the costs, if they are correct. You could buy a bloody 3 house for the price per bed she is quoting.
I would agree with her there tooon the costs.
And I can kinda see where she is coming from with the whole buzz quote. Politicians did jump on it when Jonathan Corrie was found so near the Dail before Christmas. But she shouldn’t have worded it quite that way.
So, Kate and her shower are incompetent and inefficient.
She even leans on the “fear” of councillors to tackle the issue and blames the overspend on that. What horse manure. If they’re afraid to tackle it while costs are spiralling what is the point in any of them being there. Muppets one and all.
It is THEIR incompetence that allows this waste of money in the first place.
Gets nicked for being nasty. Tries to mitigate her nastiness, by pointing out the bureaucratic incompetence of others – methinks?
Something like that, methinks.
Is there anyone left in the Fine Girls party that can be left out on their own
‘Could ask the same of the Labourers
Blueshirt ignores real issues…whats new there
Of course the costs are inflated when the building was bought for €7 million in 2007 at height of boom but its in public ownership now, was bought for the purpose of a homeless hostel and should be developed asap.
It has lain empty for over 7 years. Incredible waste of money and an important resource by city council officials in the meantime.
We see you Kate, clutching those pearls.
Surely its a long term investment?
€300K per bed though – are they building it out of titanium?
It looks like there’s a budget of 8 million to refurbish the site, and it’ll have 30 beds. That doesn’t literally mean they’re spending 300,000 per bed. We have no idea how much work needs to be done to make the site suitable.
Exactly. 300k per bed to set up but how many years will it run for? How much will it help people, thereby reducing costs in other areas eg health, crime? No point taking a short-sighted knee-jerk overview of something that if done right, could be a good thing
Unobtanium
Wrong place, issue riding a wave makes for poor decision but council is now full of half wit Sinners
I think the council has been full of council of half wit Sinners since the Vikings first set up shop.
Firstly let me say what Kate has said, is not just disgusting but so wrong. Homelessness is a growing issue that may be a buzz issue for some politicians but is a major issue for this city and an issue growing by the day. I do not think fitzwilliam street is the right place for a homeless shelter it is a part of the major tourism sector part of the city and is one of the most expensive areas in the city. Maybe the council should sell the property for 8M plus and use that money to build a much bigger facility in a more reasonably priced area of the city that is just planning 101. Here is just another example of the right wing mentality of FG and if they actually put a bit of thought into city planning instead of worrying about seeing poor people, they could help a lot of homeless people who really need accommodation because of there austerity practices.
Their,
Agree with all of that.
current market value c. €2 Million, needs gazillions ploughed into it, no better shower than DCC to do that…Kate got sentiment right, language very wrong.
It would get a lot more then 2million at auction.
you see it’s historical they are the party of the people who had the food in the famine. the castle catholics. they hate the poor,always have always will.that is why they make so many blunders.they wouldn’t dare live on the northside and Kate looks so pretty. they make me sick the sindo reading bastards
bit harsh but of course you are correct ;)
North Siders: Richard Bruton, Paschal Donohoe, Alan Farrell, James Reilly and any number of councillors
DCC have apparently spent 700-800k per year for 6 years on a building that’s not had light on in that time. I work nearby and see it constantly, no work has been carried out.
If you can find out what that money was spent on exactly, you’ll find something rotten no doubt.
It was bought by the council for €7million from a group containing Tom McFeely for a start.
only thing i can say about the girl is that she is not bad looking
She’ll go far in Fine Gael then.
Kate O’Connell is BEAUTIFUL
Jays
Those Fine Girls are doing all they can ta’shut me up