Sundial House has been a long time coming to fruition and indeed I have many personal memories of the struggles to establish this service.  I would like to congratulate all those involved.

Services like this are the key to eradicating long term homelessness.  It represents that joined up service that is so vital and I particularly welcome the concept of onsite medical care.  I would take this opportunity to ask the Health Service Executive to consider their approach to homeless services and perhaps re-look at some of the prioritisation.

Depaul Trust has been pioneering in its work with low threshold services and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Kerry and her team (indeed, many of my former colleagues).  I was particularly saddened to see at an exhibition of Fran Veale’s work in City Hall the faces of those whom I knew in Aungier Street and who are deceased, largely the result of hardship on the streets and their own demons.  It gave me some comfort that Aungier Street offered them some solace in their final days.

We have yet to deliver on low threshold / wet shelters in the city in sufficient numbers in the city.  I am committed to this and I know that Dublin City Council officials are deeply committed to moving on this .

This is a critical time for homeless services.  Yesterday the Minister launched a very honest assessment of where we are.  It will take courage and integrity for all of us now to re – evaluate where we are and what route best supports those we hope to serve.

For my part, I do not believe that solving houselessness is an answer to homelessness.  Emergency accommodation must be replaced by supported housing and services like those on offer at Sundial House.

Many of our homeless community, with the right supports will be able to establish their own homes, others will require long term support.  In either case we must not be found wanting, regardless of the economic climate. 

Finally, I believe that the launch of yesterday’s evaluation offers us all a unique opportunity to review and evaluate how we deliver services.  We owe it to those we serve to be brutally honest with ourselves.  If we are, I believe that going into the future we shall have homeless services that are focussed, joined up and best suited to the delivery of high quality services.  It won’t be easy but the path is never easy to a place worth going.

For further information contact:

lordmayor@dublincity.ie,  Lord Mayor Eibhlin Byrne on 086 813205 

ENDS