From top: Baggott Street Hospital, Dublin 2: Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien
This morning.
Via Irish Times:
Temporary accommodation may be needed for up to three years for Ukrainian refugees, with each local authority mandated to develop a significant housing centre in their area.
….Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien told Cabinet that he intends to use legal powers available to him to heavily restrict local authorities’ capacity to waive rates, in an effort to combat vacancy.
Ministers were told that powers would be used to allow a range of temporary facilities to be built bypassing planning – including medical, residential, education and childcare facilities.
Ministers were told that each local authority will be asked to identify one building in public or private ownership and develop a plan for its refurbishment.
Several large buildings have already been identified, many of them Health Service Executive properties.
Cabinet was told they include Baggot Street hospital and former institutions St Ita’s in Dublin and St Loman’s in Mullingar, as well as St Brigid’s nursing home in south Dublin and St Peter’s in Castlepollard.
Temporary housing for Ukrainian refugees may be needed for up to three years (Irish Times)
Meanwhile…
Hosting Ukrainian refugees: ‘They do become like family’ https://t.co/MmUooRGCLn
— The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) April 27, 2022
This morning.
Meanwhile…
Developer Michael O’Flynn
Last night.
Prime Time on RTÉ One.
One of the country’s leading property developers has criticised plans to house Ukrainian refugees in temporary modular homes on State land.
Michael O’Flynn, CEO of the O’Flynn Group, said that the State should instead be considering more permanent housing solutions.
“Temporary modular buildings will be taken down in a number of years. That is not a solution,” Mr O’Flynn said.
It is hoped that construction will begin on the initial phase of 500 modular buildings as soon as possible, according to Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien.
“I cannot believe we’re going down that road,” Mr O’Flynn said.
Modular homes ‘not a solution’ for Ukrainian refugees – developer (RTE)
“Cabinet was told they include Baggot Street hospital and former institutions St Ita’s in Dublin…”
Here’s a picture of a sign from the abandoned St Ita’s hospital site.
It sums up irish politics in a nutshell…
https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.2715475.1467997727!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_490/image.jpg
The cost of making that The Baggot Street hospital site habitual would be crazy- because it is listed. Just look at the location, in one of the most expensive areas in Dublin- absolutely not suitable for refugees.
Did it ever occur to these geniuses to sell the thing and raise the funds to house people properly?
Isn’t there a 67-hectare site at Thornton Hall gathering dust…
And can you imagine the time it will take to refurbish it
It’s also a protected building
And subject to zoning issues
I suppose the government is developing a child like quality on top of their delusions
But sheer desperation is now the order of the day as each day they appear more and more stupid
Just put up the rec cross tents
I assume outside the aras by Micky Dee is ideal
They can connect up the electricity to a generator get loads of Porto loos and borrow a few troughs
Listening to prime time it just gave an impression that they have not one clue
Advice from an Industry whose standard of construction was dire, hilarious.
Meanwhile the cost of the new children’s hospital is rapidly spiralling towards €2billion.
€2BILLION!
I’m old enough to remember when people were gobsmacked it was going to cost €1billion.
Tin man I am still gobsmacked it was even 750 million
But others build them rectangular
They planned it to be elliptical a monument to varadkar so for years he will be remembered
Fact it from the air it looks like a certain part of the female anatomy
Maybe it sums him up
Just think about it
Now watch Nigel have a hissy fit
Imagine what could had been done if there was ever a political will to solve homelessness in Ireland.
I did a night course in Dublin Business School there a few years ago and we had a class on statistical analysis. I crunched the numbers: the number of COVID-era dogs being returned to dog rescue in Dublin has gone up by 25% in proportion to the number of Ukrainian refugees being privately accommodated by the same good folk.
Also, there is a new snobbery in South Country Dublin with 15% more people saying “My Ukrainian is better than your Ukrainian”, etc. this week.
It’s a disgrace Joe.
(The JOurnal fact checking team are on it)