Council looks to regulate – and not ban – soup kitchens

This month’s meeting of Dublin City Council simmered – over the topic of soup kitchens.

A number of motions – submitted by Labour, People Before Profit and Sinn Féin councillors – called for an emergency motion on the issue of soup kitchens, but newly-elected Lord Mayor Emma Blain shot down all three motions on account of them not meeting the criteria to be discussed as emergency motions.

However, the Lord Mayor did allow the meeting to discuss the issue, if only to provide clarity around the issue.

Over the Christmas period, concerns were raised that soup kitchens would be banned altogether but the meeting heard this was not the case.

In October, as part of the Taoiseach’s Dublin City Centre Taskforce, it was recommended that the likes of soup kitchens and on-street services be reduced, obstinately in a bid to “improve” the image of Dublin city centre.

Ballymun-Finglas councillor Conor Reddy told the meeting that any restrictions on services such as soup kitchens would deepen the crisis.

“Soup runs meet an urgent need in our city, particularly for people dissatisfied with the inadequate provisions in emergency accommodation and those experiencing food insecurity outside of homelessness,” he said. 

“Any restrictions on these services would only deepen the crisis for some of the most vulnerable in our society. 

“The true agenda here is clear, it’s the same agenda that saw street traders raided by Gardai and Customs before Christmas – powerful people want to hide poverty from view and to push working-class people out of the city centre.”

Sinn Féin councillor Daithí Doolan said, “I am deeply disappointed that our emergency on this important issue was ruled out of order by the Lord Mayor.”

“Dublin City Council needs to send out a very clear message; any new bylaws must not become a barrier to these services.”

“The homeless crisis is a direct result of consecutive government’s failed and failing housing policy,” he noted and “those providing soup kitchens and other on-street services are volunteers doing their best to meet the needs of others.”

“It is vital that there is a comprehensive consultation with these services before any bylaws are proposed.”

“I would encourage every service to use this opportunity to fully engage with the process – any new bylaws introduced must support and strengthen these services while also ensuring that the bylaws protect and support those availing of these services.”

Cabra-Glasnevin councillor Colm O’Rourke noted that he himself was involved in soup runs during his student days, and the Fine Gael man asserted “this is not about stopping services, it is about improving them; if it was stopped it would be a disgrace.”

O’Rourke said it was about making the service “safe” for people, that there needs to be more indoor service and that outdoor services need to be brought up to a higher standard.

“One of the reasons I got into politics was because of my work in volunteering services; I was out on soup runs a few times a week so I’m aware of the amazing services homeless services provide – but we can’t let misinformation win here.”

Green councillor Janet Horner also insisted that the council was not looking to ban the services.

“An unfortunate message has gone out this week that the city council doesn’t appreciate these services,” she noted.

“From the outset, the Greens have been in support of looking at and revising by-laws from the prospective of welfare issues, safeguarding children protection and safety and we need to address these issues in relations to these services.”

“We know there is a complex set of issues interplaying here; what we can do as Dublin City Council is pretty limited. We hope that we, as councillors, can be united in bringing this issue to a higher level.”

Independent councillor Cieran Perry said there is “obviously a need” for the services, and echoed Daithi Doolan’s comments that “no one chooses to stand in the freezing cold and line up” to avail of services.

The Cabra-Glasnevin councillor said there is a concern among volunteer groups about the number of people who are in food poverty, dubbing it “politically embarrassing” for the government.

“The genuine groups want a proper system that will protect them and the people that they’re servicing,” and expressed support for a permit or license system.

“We should be cognisant of what the charity groups are saying,” he added

Labour councillor Darragh Moriarty said “our concern is that we overburden these voluntary groups with red tape and policy that we push them out of existence.”

“We know that housing and homelessness is getting worse; each month, more and more people are being pushed into homeless services.”

He challenged fellow elected representatives to eat some of the food made available to those in homeless services in a bid to understand the scope of the situation.

Fianna Fáil councillor John Stephens says “we have to be very careful about this; people give up their time to do this stuff.”

The Cabra-Glasnevin councillor said “people depend on this service but I, for one, don’t want to politics the issue. This government has been very good in giving hot meals to schoolgoers, so I will not take it from anybody that this present government does not do anything for people.”