Controversial Aungier Street family hub gets green light amid impending audit
An independent investigation into the history of Avalon House will take place.
At yesterday’s monthly meeting of Dublin City Council, long-standing plans to provide homelessness services at the former tourist hostel Avalon House on Aungier Street were passed. But Councillor Mannix Flynn said questions still loom large over the history of the site, its beneficiaries, and why "millions of euro has changed hands” in a situation he said lacks transparency, due diligence, and proper governance.
Councillors agreed yesterday to a change of use from a tourist hostel to a family hub providing short-term accommodation for homeless families . This includes the provision of 19 units with communal and staff facilities and was warmly welcomed in the chamber.
Cllr Flynn said he looks forward to “welcoming those families into our community and neighbourhood” but the circumstances surrounding Avalon House's exemption from regular planning permission procedure was "peculiar" and warranted an audit. This debate dates back to 2019, when Cllr Flynn first challenged Peter McVerry Trust’s plan to convert the tourist hostel into a homeless hostel, which resulted in a High Court legal battle where these plans were quashed.
Since then the building has lain idle although the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) has continued to pay for the building. Financial reports for 2020, 2021 and 2022 show around €2.35m per year going toward the building with renovations taking place for its eventual reuse.
Cllr Flynn dropped the case on the basis that the council accepted it needed planning permission, and an agreement had been made that Avalon House would be used for homeless families, rather than single people. He described the issue as “very contentious,” but stressed the importance of “getting the diligence right”.
“There’s an issue in relation to governance and tax payers money. There’s also a serious issue as to who owns the building and who is the beneficiary of this particular building which hasn’t been named,” Cllr Flynn told the council chamber.
Fine Gael Cllr Danny Byrne said he shares these concerns and that an “A to Z on what went on” is required for information regarding the beneficial owner to be revealed. “Why are we spending millions upon millions on somebody else's building?” he asked, stressing a need to “follow the money”.
Sinn Féin Cllr Kourtney Kenny said she has “some reservations” relating to the history of the site and called for councillors from the area to be briefed to make sure “everything is done above board”. “That’s not to say that hasn’t already happened,” she added.
“I want to make it clear from the outset all of us who have spoken do not want to see anyone without a home. We want to see proper provision for everyone.
“It’s about making sure we’re all operating from the same hymn sheet with transparency and that this doesn’t blow up in our faces like it has before.”
Director of the DRHE Mary Hayes stressed they have been “nothing but transparent” regarding Avalon House and have consistently answered every question Cllr Flynn has put to them over the years. She stressed that the Peter McVerry Trust has no involvement with the current plan and that she is happy to refer the issue to the local government auditor for investigation.
Ms Hayes said it’s important to separate the issue of Avalon House’s divisive history with the current plan to provide emergency accommodation for families in need. “Can we separate the two issues,” she asked. “I do need those 19 rooms for families.”
The impending audit will have no effect on the planned reuse of Avalon House. The change of use proposal was unanimously supported in the council with Cllr Flynn stating he totally supports it and "it's a pity" the plan didn't proceed this way from beginning.
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