merrion street

For the duration of the current crisis staff working in homeless NGOs providing emergency accommodation to homeless households are deemed essential personnel. Staff involved in the provision of private emergency accommodation (Hotels and B&Bs) are also categorised as providing essential services to our most vulnerable.

The local authorities are working closely with the HSE and NGO service operators to ensure services are maintained and that movement of individuals residing in emergency accommodation is minimised. Additional beds have been provided nationally to ensure that individuals required to self-isolate can do so. Over 560 beds have been introduced in the Dublin region alone.

Minister Murphy said:

My Department remains in contact with local authorities and our NGO’s providing services across the country. We have assured them that their staff are considered essential workers and the services they provide deemed essential. I want to thank them for their ceaseless dedication and work since the crisis first emerged and reassure them that we will do all we can to help them keep some of our most vulnerable citizens safe.
There is a comprehensive plan in place for dealing with the current Covid-19 crisis. In Dublin we have secured over 560 extra beds through a range of accommodation for isolation purposes and have moved a lot of people to new accommodation in order to comply with social distancing requirements. We also have plans in place to activate further space if required in the coming weeks. We have also secured significant space in Cork and Galway to meet any isolation needs that may arise.
We continue to work with the HSE in order to cater for the needs of those in Emergency Accommodation and will continue our constant monitoring and support as the situation evolves.