‘Bring back banned bedsits to help put an end to these inhumane death traps’
SLUM properties holding up to 30 people have been described as “inhumane death traps”.
Properties across the capital were revealed to be immensely overpopulated, with some bedrooms holding eight people and having no walking space.
Fintan McNamara, of the Residential Landlords Association of Ireland (RLAI), told the Irish Independent that the revelations were not a shock, given the state of the housing crisis in Dublin in particular.
Mr McNamara said the lack of supply is having a significant effect on the types of property people are sleeping in.
He said the Government’s decision to ban bedsits was a major contributing factor to this.
“These people are not normal landlords,” said Mr McNamara.
“We would not condone this. I think most people would understand that it is very much in the extreme.
“The Government has banned over 2,000 units – bedsits – and I’m not saying it would solve the crisis but it would definitely help.”
Dublin city councillor Mannix Flynn said urgent action is needed to address the issue and that the authorities need to come together to prevent a disaster.
He described the situation as “reckless endangerment to people’s lives”.
“It’s breaking fire safety conditions and it’s a death trap, there’s absolutely no regard for people’s safety,” he said.
“This is inhumane and it’s in breach of everything.
“The Garda, the HSE, Revenue and Dublin City Council need to come together to set up an elite group to combat this.”