Housing Minister rules out use of ‘flotels’

HOUSING Minister Eoghan Murphy has dismissed the prospect of cruise ships being used to house homeless families in Dublin.

The rejection came on the same day that the Government was heavily defeated on a motion backed by Fianna Fáil and smaller parties to declare housing and homelessness a national emergency.

The Opposition motion was backed by former Fine Gael TD Peter Fitzpatrick, who left the party this week.

The use of ‘flotels’ to accommodate those in urgent need has been relatively common on the continent, but Mr Murphy rejected the idea after it was raised again by Dublin City Council.

Mr Murphy said he doubted a ship could provide suitable accommodation for families, which are seen as the cohort for whom housing is most urgent.

‘The cruise ship idea is not suitable for homeless families in need,’ Mr Murphy said yesterday. ‘Better, more appropriate, solutions are being pursued every day by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive.’

Veteran housing campaigner Fr Peter McVerry called the suggestion ‘off the wall’, even though there would be no construction or land and planning issues, and a ship could be berthed in central Dublin.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael city councillor Paddy Smyth said that other countries had found ships to be ‘a major help’ on the issue of housing.

Speaking on RTÉ radio yesterday, Mr Smyth said: ‘If you think about a large vessel you could house thousands of people.’

In a statement issued yesterday evening, Dublin City Council said the proposal was not being actively considered.

Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan had suggested the plan to Mr Murphy last month.