https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/ballymun-hotel-emergency-accommodation-families-20439638Ballymun hotel emergency accommodation families told to leave premises as Dublin City Council ends agreementA socially distanced demonstration is understood to have been organised for this FridayBy Laura Lyne Reporter
07:00, 22 APR 2021 UPDATED 11:59, 22 APR 2021
NEWS
Families using a north Dublin hotel for emergency accommodation are being forced to leave the premises after the local council decided to no longer use it to house them.
Residents in the Travelodge hotel in Ballymun claim that they are being told to leave the hotel by the end of the week after receiving a phone call from Dublin City Council on Tuesday.
The issue was raised to the public domain by the Ballymun Soup Run which operates in the area weekly and last week shared the heartbreaking photo of a four-year-old eating their dinner on a Dublin street.
A socially distanced demonstration is understood to have been organised by People Before Profit, CATU Ireland and tenants for this coming Friday.
Fianna Fail TD for the area, Paul McAuliffe, said that Dublin City Council clarified to him that the Travelodge will cease to be used as emergency accommodation from June 15 this year.
He also said alternative accommodation is being sourced with some receiving offers for council housing.
He said: "Following a number of calls to our office I have sought clarification from Dublin City Council regarding the use of the Travelodge hotel in Ballymun. DCC has confirmed they will cease to use of the Travellodge for emergency accommodation with effect from 15th June 2021.
"The Travelodge has provided vital emergency accommodation for a number of years but with the reduction in homeless families and a requirement for larger family rooms, the decision was taken by DCC to issue a notice to quit to the provider.
"Staff are working directly with the remaining households in the Travelodge to source alternative accommodation taking into consideration location of schools and ties to the area.
"Of the remaining households, some have received an offer for council housing and others have upcoming viewings for supported rented properties. Each household has notified DCC of their preferences in the event they are likely to need alternative accommodation.
"Hotels are an unacceptable form of family accommodation and I am glad this practice is ending but I also understand this change will impact on the current daily family routines and I'm working with families to ensure no one is unsupported."
Dublin Live has contacted DCC for comment.
