Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The DRHE put it on record earlier this week that nobody would be left without accommodation. The questions I hope the Minister of State will answer are a little more detailed so perhaps I will go through them again. We know the facility is closing but when will that happen? It is an important piece of information. My understanding is that prior to it closing, it will have approximately 95 residents. I would like to be assured that not only will they all have a roof over their heads but that the location they are going to will be appropriate in that it should at least be within the city centre. Support services must continue, whether provided by Depaul or others. I have had some conversations with Dublin City Council officials and they have told me approximately 70 of the individuals will move from the night-to-night facilities to locations with 24-hour service provision. Will the Minister of State confirm if that is the case and who is making that provision? That would be welcome.

A further 25 individuals will go to supported temporary accommodation, which I presume are six-month placements with a private room or at least a room only shared with one individual. Will the Minister of State confirm that? Will he also confirm that all the accommodation that these individuals will go to will be run by voluntary sector providers and that hotels or temporary private sector emergency accommodation will not be used? There is no suggestion that will happen but if he puts it on the record, it would be welcome.

His reply mentions increasing the capacity by 120 beds. Is he saying those 120 beds that were opened had not been occupied prior to the winding down of Brú Aimsir and they were opened specifically for the purpose of accommodating, in the first instance, the 95 to 105 individuals who on any given night would be in the hostel? Are they other beds that have been opened? I am seeking the maximum amount of information and my intentions are genuine. What I am hearing from Dublin City Council is giving me less cause for concern than when I first heard the news. Nevertheless, the more information that can be put in the public domain, the better it would be for everybody, and particularly those who use the Brú Aimsir service.

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