Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
IT HAD BEEN flagged well in advance, and today we got the government’s grand plan for living with Covid-19 for the next six months.
It’s a framework of five levels. At each level, there are different restrictions in place based on the current status of Covid-19 in the country.
If we’re at Level One, we’re coping quite well with Covid and the loosest guidelines are in place. Level Five is not where we want to be, and will be akin to the full lockdown we had in April and May.
Currently, the country is at Level Two. Well, most counties are. There will be extra restrictions in effect in Dublin from midnight tonight. But Dublin isn’t at Level Three. More a Level Two plus (more on that later).
Last week, the Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris said that today’s announcement would be a chance for the government to “press reset” and improve its communication with the people.
“We need to up our game on this,” he said. “And next week is an opportunity to do so.”
Not all clear yet? Little of the details were provided at the press conference earlier today, with the more in-depth details published by the government online this afternoon.
Let’s dive into each of these so-called levels and what each one will mean.
The government wants this system to mean we can go about our daily lives as much as possible while managing the “behaviour of the virus”.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that it’ll be some time before a vaccine is widely available so we need to be able to live with the virus while also living our lives at the same time.
According to the government’s plan, the “lower levels will be activated when there is a low incidence of the disease, with isolated outbreaks, low community transmission”.
On the other hand, “the higher levels will be used to deal with higher incidences of the disease”.
Moving from one to another will be based on a number of factors, including the 14-day and 7-day figures on new cases, the 5-day rolling average of cases by county and nationally.
Other indicators will be the reproduction number, positivity rate, the capacity and performance of contact tracing and testing, and the capacity and admissions hospitals and ICU.
If all of these are increasing, the decision could be made to up an area’s – or the whole country’s – level.
It’ll be possible for different regions and counties to be at a different level to the national level, depending on the incidence of the virus in those areas. For example, while it’s not yet at Level Three, Dublin has a far greater figure for cases per 100,000 population over the past two weeks.
The restrictions at Level Three are far more stringent than at Level Two, so it’ll be hoped that the spread of the virus can be stemmed in the capital in the next few days and weeks.
To move up a level, the situation would have to worsen considerably in an area.
This could include the capacity to test and trace being constrained due to demand, the admissions to hospital and critical care increasing, a significant increase in the incidence rate and multiple clusters with secondary spread.
Serious implications
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly was clear that updating an area’s level from two to three, for example, would have serious implications.
He told today’s press conference: “It’s a serious thing to do for any county. It has a serious impact on jobs, and a serious impact on how we live our lives.”
When asked why the advice within Level Two was different for Dublin compared to the rest of the country, Donnelly said that “within any level”, NPHET could provide advice.
The government document added: “At all times the priority guiding the plan will be to keep our schools open while keeping people safe and protecting the resilience of our economy and communities.”
This is where we want to be.
It’d mean that we’re at a level where there is a very low incidence of Covid-19 in an area. Community transmission is suppressed, hospitalisations are stable or decreasing, few or no clusters and all other indicators low.
But it also doesn’t mean we can do whatever we want.
Looking ahead to Christmas, for example, if we were to reach a stage where we were at Level One we could still only have 10 visitors from up to three households under this plan.
Members of different households can continue to meet socially in other settings – like pubs or restaurants – with strict adherence to guidelines.
Gatherings
Weddings of up to 100 people can take place.
When it comes to organised indoor gatherings, such as conferences, events in theatres and cinemas, most venues can have a maximum of 100 people in attendance.
Up to 200 patrons are allowed for “larger [indoor] venues” where strict two-metre seated social distancing can be observed.
When it comes to outdoor gatherings, such as sports events, most venues can have a maximum of 200 patrons. Outdoor stadia can have up to 500 patrons – with strict distancing – when there’s a maximum capacity of 5,000.
When it comes to sports, normal training sessions and games can take place indoors and outdoors with protective measures.
Religious services can take place for up to 50 worshippers, or more in larger venues.
Furthermore, those aged over 70 and the medically vulnerable should “exercise judgement regarding the extent to which they engage with others and in activities outside home”. Nursing homes and care homes can also open with protective measures in place.
Hospitality, retail and work
Bars, cafes and restaurants will be open under the guidelines already issued to the hospitality sector. Hotels and accommodation will be permitted to do likewise.
The wet pubs can be open but nightclubs, discos and casinos will remain closed.
There are no restrictions on domestic travel so staycations can still be enjoyed.
Face coverings must be worn in retail settings and on public transport.
Museums, galleries and other cultural attractions can open in line with public health guidance.
Even at Level One, people are advised to work from home if possible. You are allowed attend work for specific business requirements and on a staggered attendance basis.
This is where we are right now.
At this level, the majority of areas of economy and society such as schools, restaurants, pubs and gyms are open.
Sporting activities can continue but with a higher level of restrictions than in Level One.
Gatherings
People can have visitors from a maximum of three households up to six people. In Dublin, no more than six people from two households can gather.
Members of different households can meet socially with up to 15 people outdoors, including Dublin. However, the guidance says that socialising can continue at indoor or outdoor public venues in Dublin “but only with people from your own household or one other household, and in groups of maximum six people”.
People in Dublin are encouraged to limit travel outside that region, and only meet one other household when outside the county.
Weddings with up to 50 people can take place.
Indoor gatherings can take place with at most 50 people, divided into pods or groups of six with no intermingling, and larger venues can have 100.
Up to 100 people are permitted at outdoor venues or 200 where the venue has a capacity of 5,000.
Sport training can take place in pods of 15 outdoors or 6 indoors. Up to 50 spectators/patrons indoors can attend sports events, 100 outdoors, and 200 in venues with a capacity of 5,000.
50 people can attend religious services or more in larger venues. Funerals can have a maximum of 50 people in attendance.
Those in at-risk groups should exercise judgement in how much they take part in activities.
Nursing homes and care homes are open with enhanced protective measures.
Hospitality, retail and work
Bars, cafes and restaurants will be open under the guidelines already issued to the hospitality sector. Hotels and accommodation will be permitted to do likewise.
Wet pubs will also be permitted to open at Level Two. However, in Dublin, they will not be permitted to do so. The set date for re-opening pubs in the rest of the country is 21 September.
There are no restrictions on domestic travel.
Face coverings must be worn in retail settings and on public transport.
Museums, galleries and other cultural attractions can open in line with public health guidance.
People are advised to work from home if possible but attend for essential on-site meetings, inductions, and training.
The restrictions get much stricter at Level Three, and it’s believed Dublin may be perilously close to getting upgraded to this level. NPHET is due to meet to discuss the situation in Dublin again on Thursday.
The government said the priority at this level is to keep schools and childcare facilities open and minimise disruption in the workforce.
It means that the likes of museums and other indoor cultural venues would be closed.
Gatherings
Visitors from only one other household are permitted.
No gatherings at all are permitted in social settings.
Up to 25 people can attend a wedding.
No organised indoor gathering (theatre event, cinema, training event, conference etc.) should take place.
Outdoor gatherings of up to 15 can take place.
For Sports, non-contact training only in pods of up to 15 (with an exemption for professional, elite, inter-county sports, senior club championship).
No matches or events can take place, except in those cases listed above. Horse racing is also permitted.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools can still open for individual training only.
Religious services will move online, although venues will remain open for private prayer and a maximum of 25 people can attend funerals.
Access to long-term residential care facilities (nursing and care homes) will be suspended aside from critical and compassionate circumstances.
Hospitality, retail and work
All museums, galleries and other cultural attractions will close.
Restaurants can remain open but with additional restrictions for indoor dining. Although the plan says “additional restrictions” would apply to wet pubs, an earlier version of the plan it says that pubs would close under Level Three.
Hotels will be permitted to open but with services limited to residents.
You’ll also be advised to stay in your county apart from work, education and other essential purposes. You are advised to work from home unless absolutely necessary to attend in person.
While schools will remain open, higher education facilities will be urged to escalate all protective measures and limit congregation as far as possible.
Public transport will be down to 50% capacity and limited to essential journeys only.
This is more serious again.
The government said the priority here is still to keep schools and childcare services open, even though the virus has significantly worsened in an area. It features measures similar to what we experienced earlier in the year.
It said: “Businesses and services which are essential will be open. No visitors to private homes or social gatherings will be allowed. All businesses and services will be closed, other than those deemed to be essential.”
In some ways, it’s more straightforward as most things will be closed. Here’s a breakdown:
This is absolutely not where we want to be.
Under the plan, it says that we’ve reached a stage where hospital or critical care capacity is “likely” to be exceeded.
It means that the number of deaths, the number of new cases, the number of hospital admissions, the number of outbreaks – all are rapidly increasing.
And we already know what it’s like to live through Level Five. We did so, more or less, throughout April and May.
Here’s a breakdown of the measures:
Reading through these levels, it’s clear that whichever way we go we’re going to be living with this virus for a long time.
Even if we reach Level One – and let’s really hope we do – it still won’t be life as we know it.
And, if it goes the other way, the government’s plan emphasises the importance of communicating effectively to the public the reasons why an action is being taken and what must be done to help stem the spread of the virus.
It says: “As the plan is executed, government will work to ensure that the rationale for the measures, the public health triggers that raised the risk level and the implications for specific groups, sectors, individuals are clearly articulated.
The more challenging the message, the more important it is that we provide opportunities for engagement and debate, but ultimately ensure that public gets clear and unambiguous messages.
With a long way to go before we see the back of Covid-19, communicating to the public effectively will be vital as we go forward with the potential for very strict restrictions to take effect again.
However, we are currently at Level Two. The overall aim of the plan is understood to be about setting out a more steady approach and avoid the kind of overnight shock announcements of severe restrictions that we saw earlier in the year.
With this plan now in place, the government will have to succeed in its aim of communicating more effectively as we go through this.
And let’s hope we’re all at Level One in time for Christmas.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
What’s the problem with naming the hotel
If they wrote the letter name the hotel
That the hotel and other hotels will
simply refuse DCC’s requests to accommodate homeless people or will insist on charging them the standard rack rate if it is shown as likely to generate bad PR.
I have no doubt the hotel is getting a good price for the rooms,hotels are not in the habit of doing Dublin City Council favours, Name and Shame the Hotel.
Hotels can refuse on many grounds that aren’t discriminatory as they are normal policies which apply to all guests.
Most won’t accept an open ended reservation, limit stays to a maximum 30 days, require a credit card in the registered guest’s name…
They are doing them a favor by accommodating homeless people period. As the journal published yesterday. Hotel rates and prices in the capital are at an all time high. They aren’t exactly crying out for the business.
If the room is paid for and the Guest does not have a history of damaging rooms, Then the the hotel has NO right of refusal. Name the F*****s and shame them.
It’s easy to bad mouth hotel but there has to be rules and regulations for the safety of everyone involved and to protect the hotel property. Even regular hotel customers have to abide by certain rules.Imagine if council comes with an monetary arrangements, how many of us will be ready to house them in our own homes?
When was the last time You stayed in a hotel that told You park somewhere else and use the back door?
We all agree that rules must apply, But the same rules should apply to all, Not extra rules because you are down on your luck.
@Brian you are right but it looks like that these rules are made by council so as to avoid damages or confrontation of any sort where council has to pay on the behalf of the homeless people e.g suppose one’s car is scratched or damaged in parking lot inadvertently, who will be responsible?
@Rogue Who is responsible in the normal course of things? The mistake being made here is that Long term Homeless with drink and alcohol problems are being housed in Hotels, That may be the case in some places, But the majority of families being forced to stay in hotels ware in rented accommodation until very recently, But the limits on rent allowance has forced them onto the streets. The obvious solution is to increase rent allowance in proportion with rising rent. I happen to know one Young family living in a hotel for the last year, I’ll bet the hotel bill is higher than the rent increase they needed in the first place.
Playing the blame game in this is pointless. It a symptom of a far greater problem.
I know (not personally) a few people who have practically lived in hotels in Dublin. They were actors, screen writes and the like.
If I go to any capital city in Europe and pay top rates to stay there I do not expect families on welfare running around the hotel without any controls.
This is Emergancy accommodation that the hotel are providing because our government and councils have not done the job they are paid to do.
@Chris Mcdonnell. Why on earth would You think that because someone is going trough a tough time , Their kids would be running around without control?
I have stayed in hotels all around the world, And By far the most misbehaved children ware the children of the well off and privileged.
I wish I could contact Catherine who wrote this article. I sent emails but they are not going through. I have a both heartbreaking and hair raising story to tell re: tus nua a DePaul charity in Finglas.
Well, that’ll help the self-esteem of people who are down on their luck…nothing like being made to feel worthless and ashamed to help give you the spirit to lift yourself out of a bad spot. That has made me sick.
It’s pretty messed up alright, no doubt about that
‘It is understood that the rules were drawn up on behalf of Dublin City Council’. So, is the issue with the Council or with a specific hotel? If it’s a Council ruling does it not apply to all designated hotels providing accommodation on behalf of the Council? Either way, it’s draconian.
Just because someone is unfortunate enough to be homeless doesn’t mean they should be officially treated like second class citizens. The curfew aspect is despicable
When some of these families return to their home country they won’t have a good word to say about Ireland and the cruel welfare system we operate.
The land of 1000 welcomes me ar$e.
@ wiklagirl…..” rules drawn up on behalf of DCC” , well , when there is anti-social bahaviour in DCC estates how come the rules arent so quickly enforced!
Isn’t that the most fantastic part of it. When they leave they won’t be encouraging more leeches to come. Excellent.
It’s undoubtedly harsh, but, I suppose, beggars cannot be choosers.
The girl on Liveline today was from Finglas Not Kinshasa, What do You mean by ” Home Country” ?
most families in hotel are irish fool, this is happening to irish families not that it should make a difference we prove time and time again that kids and single mothers dont count in this country, have them{family} come in through the side entrance dont let any1 see and through them into a room and trough away the key.Unfortunatly more and more irish people just dont care and i blame all of it on fine gael – they have push this country and the peoples syky to a horrible unfreindly place.
What a horrible , old fashioned , and mean thing to say – well done you !
As I said earlier in the week, I actually saw local families who had been forced into that situation in a Dublin hotel on Tuesday morning. Shocking that it’s been allowed to happen.give these people their dignity. I can understand no grills or drying clothes in the rooms, but use the back door. The government needs to hang its head in shame. But at least it deflects from iw.
explain” Leeches”
how many of you would pick the hotel or hostel in the city you are travelling to if it mentioned on the site or tripadvisor that it was also a homeless hostel?
Is that not the point, Force the hote to treat all residents equal? Name this Hotel today and sure as F**k any hotel with similar policies will stop tomorrow.
Discovering the hotel I chose was being used as a facility for people without a house would not stop me from staying there. Hearing they implemented these draconian rules would.
Brian, I am not saying I agree or disagree with either side here (as I think that its pointless; there’s a much larger issue here), but this is someone’s livelihood also. Would you compromise your business by not introducing rules that have had to have been borne form some previous experience??? I think you should calm down a tad on the hotel bashing. No fire without smoke. Sadly smoke can tarnish everyone’s clothing…
@Oisin, Firstly, I’m a very clam individual.
I’m not “Hotel” Bashing, I’m having a go at “individual” hotels who would issue this disgraceful list. Unlike them who are targeting “everyone”.
They are compromising their own business by treating some paying guests differantly than other paying guests. Let me ask You,If You went into any hotel and ware told You get a better room and treatment if you own your own home, Would you stay thare? I wouldn’t.
Maybe the hotel do not want the guests who are actually paying rip off amounts off money to be disturbed? If this is the case then it should be used solely for people who are unfortunate enough to be in this situation. After all, it’s fair exchange to me it seems. Rules seem reasonable to me….no smoking or cooking in rooms and no visitors after eleven at night. I mean seriously who has visitors at that time? And no children under 18 allowed be on their own? That’s allowable too
Yeah because the council got discount rates, the homeless should be treated differently than their fellow human.How very reasonable of them.
I don’t believe the council got discount rates.
Have to agree with Mary all Bar the car park (not sure why when rooms are paid for) seem fairly reasonable the resonance for grills or toasters is due to fire safety & drying clothes not room causes damn smells. Rules don’t seem harsh to me after all its a hotel not a block of flats to be fair. The rules apply to all guests.
Not sure why they have to use a different entrance either that and car park are only ones I would have an issue with tbh rest are in line with regular rules.
Not using the main door could be as simple as one or more hotels had to highlight to DCC that some long term residents were traipsing out for a smoke every 30 minutes as they are bored off their chops. As a hotel where it’s front door is an important representation of the establishment will take issue with the same people who for all we know have been chain smoking in their fluffy pj’s every day when guests are arriving. Just like anywhere, guests there for the weekend are giving privileges where someone living there for months must have more rules imposed.
Why can they not just build concentration camps for these people and be done with it. Talk about humiliation.
I’m sure those in concentration camps would have picked a free hotel room with a few conditions of stay over certain death.
Ireland has become a disgusting country and the present government does not give a damn (they are only interested to get re-elected) the fat cats have gotten fatter thanks to FG forget about LAB as the moaner Joan has committed political suicide with Jobstown . The vast majority of the present government are completely out of touch with reality, they have jumped onto the gravy train and live in another world. But they will get a deserved wallop in the next election. The Government has abused and lied to the electorate but the electorate have woken up.
Why dont you leave Ireland if its disgusting. You do know where Dublin Airport is.
I am an Irish citizen but I don’t live in Ireland, I got my ass out there a longtime ago.
“Why don’t you leave ireland”
FFS – such childishness
Another Blue Shirt?
I really doubt Fine Gael will be getting much of a wallop in the next election. People knew what they were getting when they voted for them.
I think the shocker was that Labour didn’t do much to soften the blows. They are finished in government for a long time to come for sure.
Just someone very deluded and has no empathy for Irish citizens I’d guess Paul.
“such childishness” so you go and visit the Phoenix park tonight, Mount joy Square and anywhere else on Dublin streets and count the number of children sleeping rough and then come back to me and speak about “childishness”
This was directed at Mr. Canning.
Everyone is entitled to their option and free speech .
Stephen I think you’re wrong there alot of FG supporter’s at the last election are leaving in their droves.24% at last poll quite down from the lofty heights of 36%.
@Paul – my comment SPECIFICALLY refers to your suggestion, as quoted in the comment.
And I stand by it – so please, next time you want to be childish, please don’t confirm it by trying to deflect from your original stupid and irrelevant comment.
@Norman – As we all know polls in this day and age are rather meaningless and change constantly. Look at the recent UK general election for that. The exit polls were the only ones that were accurate.
You may be right that support for FG is down overall but for people like me who never voted for them, I am left asking myself who to vote for now?
I voted for Labour last time but my politics have changed since then so they won’t be getting it. SF and the Anti People Socialist Austerity Alliance or whatever they are called will never get a look at from my vote. Fianna Fail don’t deserve my vote with their weak leadership and popular politics. Independents never achieve anything. So I’m left in a situation where I may as well let Fine Gael finish the job they started, after all they have achieved some positive things, even though I don’t particularly like them.
Obviously this is as things stand now. Lots can change in the coming months.
Stephen FG are following the plan as put in place by the late Brian Lenihen so those FF that loaned their vote to FG will return to FF as there is no difference between the 2.Independents will decide the outcome of the next GE unless FF go in with FG.
Sorry son, but you would have to be a complete idiot to vote for FG.
@Norman – I just don’t see independents as contenders for anything, they are too fractured and even more so than other politicians, they take on popular issues mostly.
@ Arnie – Give me an alternative and a reason to vote for them, lad. I;ll consider all options.
Yes, vote for the party that destroyed the country financially.
So homeless people are to be treated differently to other citizens of the state .Worked well in America and South Africa.
Treating them a sub human. Those rules are a disgrace how dare they.
Well done Labour you must be proud of yourselves. Looking forward to iPhone Joan testifying about her “imprisonment” shortly before the next election. Sure to garner votes that story.
Yes Kerry Blake, her imprisoned in her car, paid for by us, the taxpayer, for a couple of hours and now look at these poor families, imprisoned in one room and God only knows for how long!! This government are so stuck up their own asses it makes my blood boil!!!
Unreal, well this is what you get when you elect teachers etc to run your country the lack of a statesman is evident. And as for the idiots that think this will never happen to them or their extended families good luck to them.
Very little being done to solve the homeless crisis, yet a Minister can spare the time to discuss spending up to 100,000 euro to put an asylum seeker through university.
**Carol Oates
Very little being done to solve the homeless crisis, yet a Minister can spare the time to discuss spending up to 100,000 euro to put an asylum seeker through university.**
Ironically, that asylum seeker probably speaks much better Irish than a waste of space like you Carol.
I wish we could ship out the bigots like you.
Bless your ignorance. I can tell you I know many people from overseas who have better English than I have. One of my good friends is Russian and has corrected me on more than one occasion. So your slur is wasted on me. It’s not a competition on who is smarter or who paid more attention in English class. It is a question of funds and social responsibility of the people who are supposed to be in government. Do you honestly believe we should even be considering paying university fees for one particular student to that extent when there are kids sleeping in cars and sleeping bags in Dublin parks? Not to mention the legal precedent it would set for other students from overseas at the cost of homeless, health, and other services in Ireland. If you do, there is no reasoning with you.
carol,very well said
If they don’t like the rules, they should do what the rest of us do, get a job and pay the market rate for a house. They can do as they wish then.
Many of these families aren’t allowed to work because they are from overseas. It isn’t their fault that they can’t work. It’s the system.
Why are they here if they can’t work?
Ah, the halfwit racists and bigots crawl out of the woodwork…
A lot of gullible idiots like yourself with their head up their holes also come out of the woodwork proclaiming anybody who has the audacity to question multiculturalism is a racist.
Harsh
…and probably illegal. It’s a hotel, not a work house.
If that’s how they treat their guest, someone would want to check on how they treat their staff.
Their a lot more rules you have to adhere to when you ” bust your gut working”to get a mortgage… and a lot more hardship.
A lot more hardship than sleeping on the streets? Get real!
House of Cards – it will get worse – can see these Hotels declining acceptance as the numbers grow.
What a mess the Government has created.
Why can’t we actually read the attached docs on Android phones? Very annoying Journal.
I can on my Android phone.
Good for you. I, and many others, can’t as it’s too blurry.
No fear of our Minister for Social Protection having to use the tradesman’s entrance her being a champagne socialist.
I can read it fine. Have you tried cleaning your glasses?
Áine, no need to be rude about it. Your post spoke for all Android phone users. I am merely pointing out that this doesn’t include me. This may then be an issue with your phone or software, rather than being TheJournal.ie’s fault as you seem to be suggesting.
Yeah. It’s fine on both my Androids too.
it’s perfect on my android.
Áine has a cheap phone, poor girl.
Open up Farmleagh for these people that would help.
As joe Duffy said today prisoners are treated better..
Prisoners are not treated better. What does rich Joe Duffy know about prison?
His first job was a probation officer.
it’s amazing how other hotel residents object to having what they call ” these” people in the hotel. the whole system is wrong but there are people I know staying in hotels and guesthouses who go to their relatives for the day but have to keep staying or otherwise they are not seen to be homeless and therefore not eligible to be rehomed
By relatives, do you mean the house where the father of the children lives?
Well OTV you should report them if you have any proof….
It is an outrage that families travel all the way to Ireland for a better life, and when they get here, this is how they are treated.
Hopefully the government invests the 18 million that is due and we can then welcome of flood of needy families from across europe and beyond. Once word gets out that Irish eyes are smiling and we have an apartment for them if they need it.
I really hope you are taking the piss.
Oh cool, there are no irish homeless people. Excellent. Glad you cleared that up.
Not good for Alan Kelly the silence has been deafening since the start of the week.
Why destroy people dignity..Name the hotel and cancel all bookings and seek alternatives..This hotel gets paid in full therefore all customers should be treated equally..
They are being paid for these families as guests and they should be treated as guests. What do they think they are going to do? I am so angry at this insult to people. Bad enough that you have to live in an hotel with your children but to be treated as a second class citizen as well, is true humiliation.
Yes. Bang on Siobhan.
Maybe the authoritarians might like if these folk would wear some identifying mark in case one of them slips through the front door. If only they had a distinguishing feature to make them stand out.
For those of you wondering what hotel it is, Google hotel gastro bar Dublin.
You mean to tell me that there allowed to use irish water for free. there really giving these folks the full cead mile failte.
I’ll make sure each of my four kids leave this joke of a country as soon as they’ve finished school and give themselves a decent quality of life away from this f***in embarrassment of a kip
Oh jay, not a very positive attitude. You’re putting me off having kids, All
Together!
Yes this is indeed the Dracula hotel in malahide!!! I reckon the inmates in our prisons are being treated better. I heard about their antics from a friend who was unfortunate enough to end up living there. Her husband passed away last year and the greedy landlord decided he wanted her out so he could increase the rent. So she is currently residing there. Horrendous situation to be in.
since January the woman hasn’t been able to find alternative accommodation for her family within her budget or choosing not to ?
Not being able to use the front door. Says it all.
“Allowing visitors to enter the hotel.
Leaving children under the age of 18 unaccompanied on the premises.
Smoking and drinking on site.”
I have worked in dcc emergency housing and those rules are there for very good reason. Not all residents would allow it but often unsupervised 3-9 year olds running all over a building with loom bands, biscuits, sausages, ketchup, bread, slices of cheese, football’s, not to mention no shoes and other health and safety issues. Kids should be supervised, visitors aren’t allowed for safety of all residents, smoking/drinking happened where I worked – a family was cancelled once for repeatedly smoking in common Hall and putting out cigs in carpet. It is not easy to cancel an apartment.
I am in no way defending the current situation, for one where I worked the residents had fully equipped apartments with dishwasher, cooking facilities etc etc and it’s outrageous to expect families to go without a way to cook or do laundry. Even at that, the accommodation is supposed to be temporary and many families I knew were stuck unable to have visitors/signing in at 11pm for over a year. There are so many more important things this article could address than necessary rules for families safety.
People need an incentive to work, there needs to be a time limit on how long we are allowed claim rent allowance and welfare. Otherwise our taxes are claimed as someone else’s right. In other countries these families would not be helped, using a back door in exchange for emergency accommodation?!? Come on it could be far worse!!
Is this hotel in malahide??
All that money spent on Irish water could have gone into helping families secure homes and not have to live like this.
Everytime one sees Health & Safety quoted as a reason one should seek evidence. I wonder how many guests have been injured when frequenting other guests rooms. My guess is no more than have come to harm while languishing alone.
have your say