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TD posts video of cockroaches at State accommodation for homeless

Anti-austerity alliance TD Ruth Coppinger has posted a video of cockroaches she says were found a...
Newstalk
Newstalk

10.50 2 Sep 2015


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TD posts video of cockroaches...

TD posts video of cockroaches at State accommodation for homeless

Newstalk
Newstalk

10.50 2 Sep 2015


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Anti-austerity alliance TD Ruth Coppinger has posted a video of cockroaches she says were found at temporary accommodation allocated to a homeless family in Dublin.

Coppinger has shared the footage of the insects in a bathtub on her Facebook page, asking her supporters to watch and share the content.

In the short 12 second video family members can be heard reacting to finding cockroaches in their accommodation. 

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Coppinger claims the family are staying in one of the hotels the State uses to house homeless families. 

 

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MUST WATCH - PLEASE SHARE!Video of a cockroach in the shower base of bathroom in one of the many 'hotels' used by the state to house homeless familiesPress statement 1/9/15Anti Austerity AllianceState paying millions without inspections of 'hotels' for homeless * cockroaches video-recorded in family's shower* children refusing to stay in 'hotels'Ruth Coppinger TD (Anti Austerity Alliance) today called for inspections of all hotels being paid public money to accommodate homeless families, following a meeting with a family enduring cockroaches in their room and ongoing health infections."I'm horrified having seen video evidence of cockroaches in the bedroom and shower of a family in a Dublin hotel receiving taxpayers' money over a long period. How much is being paid by Dublin City Council to 'hotels' who ignore complaints about cockroaches? What sort of hotel in this century doesn't even provide a TV in rooms? Why is a kettle too much to ask for?"I held a meeting in the Blanchardstown Anti Austerity Alliance office with 10 local homeless families. Some are in better conditions than others but all report bed-wetting and even soiling by their children due to stress of being homeless. Infections of impetigo, eczema and lice are widespread in some accommodation centres. Children's physical and mental wellbeing and their ability to access an education is clearly unimportant."Today, I am asking Dublin City Council to inspect all premises where they are paying for accommodation. I will be asking how much they have paid to the premises where these cockroaches were recorded; whether they will carry out unannounced inspections; whether they will allow outsiders or media in to view all premises; and where they will safely re-accommodate families."More fundamentally, when is this government going to act on the housing emergency? Hotels are not appropriate for families, but failing any housing being built, there should at least be a health and safety threshold. Paying hotels to house the homeless is unbelievably wasteful. One of the women at the AAA meeting was refused a rent supplement increase and became homeless, but three nights in a Dublin West hotel cost more than her entire rent allowance for the month."I will be assisting homeless families in calling a meeting in Dublin West shortly, followed by further action to demand: no evictions; rent controls now; the release of all Nama hotels, housing and lands; and public investment to build thousands of council homes."EndsRuth Coppinger TD.

Posted by Ruth Coppinger TD on Tuesday, September 1, 2015

 

Ms. Coppinger has called for room inspections to be carried out by officials.

The Dublin Region Homeless Executive says it does carry out inspections, but with 556 families currently in Homeless Accommodation in the Dublin Region they are operating under pressure.

The family involved have not been identified.

Coppinger says homeless families she has met with report bed-wetting and soiling by children living in stressful conditions, as well as infections of impetigo, eczema and lice at some accommodation centres.

She has accused the government of neglecting children's rights, access to education and health.

Dirty pests

The pests are considered to be dirty because they are usually found around bins and in kitchens, and can leave a nasty smell.

Cockroaches are perfectly adapted to surviving in bathrooms because they can manage to stay alive while submerged in water for up to half an hour.

They are thought to be linked to allergic reactions like asthma and are potentially dangerous to humans. 

Frequent cleaning and vaccuming and fixing leaky taps and sealing bins can solve cockroach problems.

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MUST WATCH - PLEASE SHARE!Video of a cockroach in the shower base of bathroom in one of the many 'hotels' used by the...

Posted by Ruth Coppinger TD on Tuesday, September 1, 2015


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