Spotted on Thomas Street, Dublin 8 this morning.
Simon Judge tweetz:
What fresh hell is this?
What part of the chNOMNOMNOM
This morning.
Outside Bewley’s, Grafton Street, Dublin
Anyone?
Thanks Carlosfandango
Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly, responding to questions at a forum on homelessness last December, following the death of Jonathan Corrie. The man holding the sign behind Mr Kelly is David Finn, whose father Noel Finn died after living homeless for seven-and-a-half years in Clondalkin
Further to the news that Dublin City Council’s homeless budget has been left with an €18.5million shortfall, Fianna Fail Dublin City Councillor Paul McAuliffe spoke to Cathal MacCoille this morning on Morning Ireland.
Cathal MacCoille: “Dublin City Council says the Government has left it €18million short in tackling homelessness with Assistant Chief Executive Richard Brady told councillors last night that the deficit is serious and could affect services. The councillors looked for funding of over €55million last April but were informed by the Department of the Environment that it will just get €37million for this year. Paul McAuliffe is a Fianna Fail councillor on Dublin City Council and he’s with us now. Good morning Paul, you’re welcome to the studio this morning.”
Paul McAuliffe: “Thank you.”
MacCoille: “Was this a surprise, you only found out last night?”
McAuliffe: “Yeah, I suppose the figures were circulated to the Corporate Policy Group which is a cross-party group which is tasked with running the councillors and running the budget and really, not only the decision, but the scale, the €18.5million really did take back many councillors. It was in marked contrast to the commitment that the Minister [for the Environment, Alan Kelly] gave last December, following the death of Jonathan Corrie, when he said that finances would not be an issue in terms of taking people off the streets. And when we have over 1,000 children in emergency accommodation, to put that very last front of emergency accommodation, to put that at risk, by withdrawing funding and not making funding available, really, it has to be questioned why the minister hasn’t stepped in and discussed this with his officials.”
MacCoille: “Is the problem bigger than you expected?”
McAuliffe: “Absolutely, we set aside, the service would cost €68million in total. We set aside a budget of €55million and we set a contingency of five as well but the department have only come back with €37million, it’s a huge shortfall, it’s just 60% of the total cost, rather than the 90% which is required.”
MacCoille: “The Department say that the €55million, that Dublin City Council knew that the allocation, the national allocation was €55million, an increase they say of €10million or 22% on last year and that if your request had been acceded to, no other city, town or county would have received any allocation. This was not a tenable option.”
McAuliffe: “Well perhaps they should have told their own minister because he did not make that clear last December. We were told to go ahead and ensure that people were not left on the streets, that people were put into emergency accommodation, that we were to turn around the voids in the city and on all of those issues, on all of those budgets, the minister has fallen short.”
MacCoille: “If the problem is bigger than expected by you, or indeed by Government, then obviously, the money that was originally allocated nationwide wasn’t going to be enough, is that fair?”
McAuliffe: “Absolutely, and I think that’s a matter for the minister to respond to. It has been clear all of last year and every month of this year that the homeless crisis is increasing.”
MacCoille: “So there’s no guarantee that even if you get the €55million you requested that even that would be enough?”
McAuliffe: “Yeah, we have, we had more than 30 people a month presenting as homeless last December. We now have more than 60 people in May and June representing each month.”
Listen back in full here
Earlier: Meanwhile On Bolton Street
Previously: Less Than 50m From The Dáil
Mark Stedman/Rollingnews.ie
‘sup?
Rob writes:
Hope you can help! A 2-year-old girl has lost her best friend on holidays and cannot sleep without him! He is a Valentine’s Day red devil teddy bear with black horns and black cape. He was bought in Dunnes [Stores] about 7/8 years ago.
If there is anything that you can do to help us find his ‘twin’, it would be greatly appreciated If anyone has one of these devils lying around their house that we can have/buy, it would make a little girl (and her parents!) very happy!
Anyone?
UPDATE:
A Dunnes red devil bear kindly donated by Alan Rapple this evening. Mmf.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
The beautifully rendered, ethereal watercolour cats of Serbian artist Endre Penovac.
At last there’s a cunning new tip
For ladies who quite like to strip,
And let people look,
At flesh on Facebook,
Just Photoshop in a male nip.
John Moynes
Bolt Hostel at 38/39 Bolton Street, Dublin 1
Kitty Holland, in today’s Irish Times, reports:
“Housing activists in Dublin have “reclaimed” a former hostel that has been vacant for three years, saying they will soon open it up to house homeless families.”
“Formerly known as Bolton House, the building on Bolton Street is owned by Dublin City Council and was used to accommodate homeless people before being closed in 2011.”
“In recent weeks however, organisations that have emerged in response to the housing crisis came together as the Irish Housing Network and identified the building as one they could quickly put back to use as emergency accommodation.”
“Among the nine groups involved are the North Dublin Bay Housing Crisis Committee, the Housing Action Network, Lending Hand and An Spréach, which means “Spark” in Irish.
Meanwhile, on its Facebook page, the people behind Bolt Hostel, write:
“Folks, we are looking for some donations for The Bolt Hostel. Items needed: Emulsion paint, preferably white or cream, gloss paint; rollers, paint brushes, masking tape, floor/dust sheets; sand paper; trays + rollers; grout for tiles; white spirit; ladder; mixing pots; lengths of timber, various sizes; nails; wood glue etc..”
“Kitchen utensils; cutlery; paper cups; bowls; toilet rolls; food; tea bags; sugar; milk; washing-up stuff, sponges; washing-up liquid; black bags; clothes; floor cleaner etc.”
“A dry and wet vacuum cleaner for the carpet; dust pan and brush; mop + bucket; bleach; bathroom cleaner etc.”
“Any items to make the place more homely; pictures; saor view box; side tables; lamps; cabinets; shelves; desk; chairs; rugs shower curtains; rugs etc.”
“Bed sheets; mattress covers; cushions/pillows; net curtains; mirrors;
Any help greatly appreciated.”
Activists reclaim vacant Dublin building to house homeless (Kitty Holland, Irish Times)
FIGHT!
at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIFr_UocsqM
The second installment of a tribute to movie punch ups by talented editor Robert Jones.
Part 1 here.
Previously: Vanity, Insecurity
Killarney District Court, Kerry
Anne Lucey, in the Irish Times, reports:
“A 50-year-old man told a court he was “bribed” with the offer of home cooked bacon and cabbage to go to his mother’s house and cut the back lawn. He insisted he ate the meal on the porch and believed he did not breach an order not to enter her home.”
“Donal Cosgrave of West End, Rathmore, Co Kerry, was arrested for breach of contravening a barring order on July 1st. Mr Cosgrave was willing to produce the shoes with the grass still on them, to back-up his story, Killarney District Court was told on Tuesday.”
“Mr Cosgrave said he only called to his mother’s home at Woodlawn Estate, Killarney because she offered to cook him bacon and cabbage if he cut the grass. In effect it amounted to a bribe because no-one could resist his mother’s cooking, he said.”
“Padraig O’Connell, solicitor, told the court the shoes were in an evidence bag, in court.”
Man ‘bribed’ with bacon and cabbage, court hears (Irish Times)
Pic: Radio Kerry
