Simon Coveney: Apollo House sit-in 'not the way to deal with homeless crisis'
The Housing Minister Simon Coveney has said the Apollo House sit-in is not the way to tackle Dublin's homeless crisis.
Apollo House on Tara Street has been renamed "Home Sweet Home" by a group of activists and artists who have occupied the NAMA-owned property and are converting it into homeless accommodation.
Speaking in the Dáil yesterday, Mr Coveney said that a major homeless initiative is already working for the city.
He also praised Dublin City Council for creating 210 safe new beds for the homeless in just one month.
The Minister said: "To occupy a building and to try and put those supports together in an ad hoc way, while I understand the frustration and motivation behind it, is not the way to deal with this.
"Instead, I am a very accessible Minister when it comes to CEOs of homeless organisations. From Focus Ireland, the Simon Community, the Peter McVerry Trust to Vincent de Paul - whoever, the CEOs have my phone number and can call me directly at any point in time."
