Plans To Renovate Dublin City Building Into Homeless Shelter Have Been Shelved

Work to convert one of Dublin city centre's oldest buildings into a homeless-shelter has been ceased, following an intervention by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht this month. 

One month ago, news emerged that the homeless charity initiative The Peter McVerry Trust had plans to renovate and refurbish 21 Aungier Street into a shelter for those sleeping rough. 

The building, considered to be one of the oldest in the city, is believed to date from 1667. 

But according to The Irish Times, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has since intervened the conversion of the building, amid fears that the redevelopment would damage the building structure itself. 

Chief Executive of The Peter McVerry, Pat Doyle, confirmed the news this week;

“We understand that we have obligations under the national monuments legislation, but I am very confident that we in no way damaged the building.”

Mr Doyle went on to say that he ''saw no reason that historic buildings could not be used for homeless accommodation'', and “if I could use the Áras, I would.”

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