Dublin Lord Mayor appeals for homeless shelters

Some people are extremely hypocritical when it comes to helping homeless people, Dublin Lord Mayor Christy Burke has said.

He said he had received emails from people who didn't want homeless shelters in their areas but were saddened at the death of Jonathan Corrie on the street last week "which is quite hypocritical to me".

He was speaking at the opening of IFA's live animal crib at the Mansion House. Cllr Burke said nimbyism (not in my back yard) was alive and well "without a shadow of a doubt. Spend a week with me, that's all I say. Here we are, opening a crib, with room at the inn," he said.

“I’m asking communities and residents groups in the city to let there be room in the inn.”

Cllr Burke said there were 112 people sleeping on the street on Monday night. Asked if things were improving since Mr Corrie died in a doorway close to the Dáil, he said the numbers of people sleeping out were much the same.

“But let’s hope that changes in the next week,” he said. “I won’t stop until every man and woman who needs a bed, has a bed and gets a bed.”

The live animal crib is free to view but donations are welcome and IFA president Eddie Downey said it had raised more than €16,000 for the Mansion House Fuel Fund last year.

The fund was opened in 1891 to help poor people after a particularly hard winter. The money is distributed to charities such as St Vincent de Paul and Dublin Simon Community.

Cllr Burke said the fund distributed up to €130,000 a year “to the most needy in this city and long may it continue”.

The opening of the crib, complete with a donkey, a goat and sheep, is one of the highlights of the festive season and this year marks the 20th anniversary of the event.

Children from St Joseph's Nursery on Morning Star Road, dressed as angels, enthusiastically embarked on selection of carols to mark the opening of the crib, flanked by the Lucan Gospel choir.

Cllr Burke said his office had received calls from people as long as ago as September, asking when the crib would be open.

“It’s really, really a very important part of the structure of Dublin city,” he said. “For the citizens, for the visitors, I think it’s terrific.”

Mr Downey said the farmers' association was delighted to work with Dublin City Council to set up the live animal crib.

“Particularly at the current time, with all the issues around the homeless situation, it’s good that we do this. It’s good that the people of Dublin come to it.”

IFA will also donate about 100 turkeys to the St Vincent de Paul hostel in Back Lane, near Christchurch and is supporting Focus Ireland this Christmas.

The Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals advises on the care of the animals and Mr Downey said they were very well looked after during their stay in Dublin. They have a new crib this year, courtesy of Dublin City Council’s housing department.

"As a gift from the farmers of Ireland, we hope the crib brings joy and excitement, particularly for young families," Mr Downey said.

The live animal crib is open at the Mansion House every day from 11am to 6pm but will close at 2pm on Christmas Eve.