New homeless accommodation planned for Waterford city met with criticism
The new homeless accommodation will act as an overflow to McGwire House, pictured, which is currently the only homeless hostel in Waterford City.
Some sharp words were exchanged at a recent meeting of the Metropolitan District Council.
Independent Councillor Dónal Barry asked the council a question relating to a new property proposed as an overflow centre for McGwire House, a homeless shelter available for both men and women.
Cllr Barry asked, “What specific risk assessments did Waterford City and County Council carry out before selecting a premises on the Manor, given it's one of the busiest roads between Waterford and Cork?”
He continued, “How does the Council justify placing a facility that may include high-risk individuals, including recently released offenders, directly next to a vulnerable women’s centre?”
He asked why the nearby residents were not consulted before the decision was made: “Does the Council accept that a consultation after the fact is meaningless and undermines public trust?”
He also asked, “How could the council justify placing vulnerable people, many with addiction issues, in a location where there is real danger from heavy traffic and what provisions are going to be put in place to ensure their safety, dignity and privacy of service users, who will be queuing in full public view on the main Waterford to Cork road?”
He continued, “Why has this facility been placed in the Manor, an already disadvantaged area?”
Paul Flynn, a senior executive engineer at Waterford City and County Council, responded that “this is a property whose use class is defined by planning as a hostel and has operated as emergency accommodation recently as a Ukrainian refugee accommodation centre."
Mr Flynn said, “I’d like to discuss with Cllr Barry the notion of ‘threat’ associated with our homeless, who we need to accommodate."
He explained, “We were required by the government to seek more stable, longer-term supports for the homeless in the city and county, and we sourced a suitable property in terms of planning and its historic use – that is the property at the Manor.”
Mr Flynn said the Council had engaged with “some” residents subsequently, who, according to him, were “quite content” with the plan.
