(English at end of report.
These are  the flowers of hope)

Tá an tAonad do Dhaoine gan Dídean, i Sráid an Drinán i gcathair Chorcaí le dúnadh roimh dheireadh na bliana, nó chomh luath agus is féidir.

Is é sin an tuairim atá ag an gComhairleoir Diarmaid Ó Cadhla tar éis don Ghrúpa um Gníomh Tithíochta a bheith i gcainteanna le lucht bainistíochta an tAonad i Sráid an Drinán inniu.

Dúirt Ó Cadhla go bhfuil sé muiníneach… “glac ionadaí an Chomhairle Cathrach agus bainisteoir an tAonad leis an gcás a leagamar amach.  Dúramar go raibh an foirgneamh féin lochtach agus nárbh fhéidir seirbhísí d’ard caighdeáin a sholáthar inti, agus go raibh sé ró bheag chun an áit a chóiriú nó aon úas-ghrádú a dhéanamh air.  Bhfuaireamar geallúint go raibh an cheist ar bár liosta acu agus go raibh siad ag súil leis an cheist a bheith réitithe roimh dheireadh na bliana, agus go gcoimeádach siad ar an eolas sinn.”

Tá an tAonad do Dhaoine gan Dídean, i Sráid an Drinán sa chathair ina ábhar conspóid le tamall anois, chuir an Grúpa Gnímh picéad taobh amuigh de chúpla babhta roimhe seo.

An tseachtain seo caite chuadar isteach sna hoifigí roimh am dúnadh agus d’fhanadar istigh nuair a d’iarraidh orthu imeacht, tar éis cúpla uair a chloig glac an mbainisteoir go rachaidh siad chun cainte leo, tharla na cainteanna sin inniu.

Cé nár chuireadh dáta faoi leith ar dhúnadh an tAonad glacann an Grúpa um Gníomh Tithíochta leis a méid a chualadar inniu agus creideann siad go mbeidh an cheist réitithe roimh Nollaig.

Mar fhocal deireadh tar éis na gcruinnithe, mhol Ó Cadhla obair an fhoireann i Sráid an Drinán, “Ní mór dom a rá arís go bhfuil a chuid oibre agus chuir chuige i seirbhís do dhaoine gan dídean mholta go hard i measc an phobail, ach amháin tá srian ar a n-iarrachtaí ón láthair oibre atá acu – tá súil agam go dtiocfaidh feabhas ar sin sula bhfad.”

Drinan Street to Close!

The Homeless Persons Unit at Drinan Street in Cork is to close before the end of this year, or as soon as possible.

That is the view of Cllr Diarmaid Ó Cadhla after the Housing Action Group had talks earlier today with management of the Homeless Persons Unit.

Ó Cadhla said he is confident… “Representatives of the City Council and the Unit’s management accepted the case we set out.  We said that the building itself was not fit-for-purpose and that it was too small to improve or to allow any upgrade.  We were promised that the question was on the top of their list and that they expected it to be resolved before end of year, and they promised to keep us updated.”

The Homeless Persons Unit at Drinan Street has been the subject of controversy for some time now, the Housing Action Group have picketed the place a few times. Last week the group went into the offices just before it closed and refused to leave when asked.  After a few hours management agreed to hold talks with the group, this happened today.

While a specific date for closure of Drinan Street has not been given the Housing Action Group accepts what they were told today and believe the unit will be gone by Christmas.

In a final comment after the meeting, Ó Cadhla spoke well of the staff at Drinan Street, “I am happy to repeat that many have complemented their work and commitment to providing the best possible service to homeless people, however, their good efforts are hampered by the conditions in which they have to work – hopefully that will improve soon.”