Mould, damp and pest infestations found in Dublin emergency accommodation

Inspections uncovered a string of serious problems

Rooms or beds at two facilities were unavailable altogether because of pest-control issues.

Inspectors working on behalf of the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) recorded mould in bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and sitting rooms, along with leaking taps, damaged flooring and broken windows. Damaged wardrobes and kitchen units were logged elsewhere.

In one Dublin apartment, a single inspection report catalogued the lot.

"Mould in sitting room, window in sitting room hinge broken, mould in bathroom, shower head keeps falling down, freezer not working, mould on freezer. Freezer door won’t open. Door on fridge press cracked. Mould in second bedroom. Water pressure low in wash-hand basin in bathroom."

- Inspection report on a Dublin emergency accommodation apartment

Fire alarms and missing safety records

Inspectors also found alarm panels displaying faults, servicing that was overdue, and missing records for both evacuation drills and emergency lighting checks.

The findings land with the State’s homeless system already stretched, after record homeless figures and the 5,620 children spending this summer in emergency accommodation.

With demand still rising, the condition of the rooms the State is paying for is now as pressing a question as how many of them there are.