Dublin City Council has agreed to review the no-pets policy in their new social homes in Whitehall.
This comes after the Council’s controversial advert for 124 new social homes in Whitehall which included the words “NO PETS ALLOWED” underlined in bold capital letters. Cllr Mannix Flynn told Dublin Live he received multiple calls from “extremely distressed and full of anxiety” pet owners.
Mr Flynn added he is prepared to take the issue to the courts if he deems it necessary. He said: “Dublin City Council Housing Committee and the Dublin Region Homeless Executive who will be across 4,000 bodies have agreed to relook at this and review this. And I certainly hope that that review is fairly quick because I certainly don't want to end up in a court case with the State of 4,000 bodies on behalf of the many clients that have contacted me with that express idea.”
Read more: Homeless tent-dwellers move from Phoenix Park ahead of Joe Biden's visit
Cllr Flynn also claimed the ban on pets was a “breach of human rights" an is "completely wrong”. He added: “It’s important to get the balances absolutely right and that when people are going into approved housing bodies or indeed local council dwellings that they are given the same rights as any other individual who would be going into private accommodation.”
Stressing on the importance of pets for the family and people’s emotional attachment to them, he said the no pets policy has been “very damaging”, “lacking in compassion” and has been causing “unnecessary trauma and stress”. The Independent councillor continued: “We need now, immediately, prior to Dublin City Council making the review to come out and say that they will stand any of that challenge.”
Mr Flynn also highlighted the importance of tenants knowing their rights and taking a stand, further adding that “when they're building these places with universal access, they need to make sure that they’re pet-proof”.
Cllr Flynn raised the issue during a meeting of the council's Strategic Policy Committees yesterday. In response, the Director of Dublin Region Homeless Executive Mary Hayes said: "We always have more people looking for emergency accommodation where they can bring dogs in and it is a particular issue as well for rough sleepers sometimes. I think it's fair point that we review and try and keep it under review."
READ NEXT:
Teen girl rushed to Beaumont Hospital after two friends die in Galway tree collision
Bank holiday 2023: The six remaining public holidays in Ireland and if you're entitled to a day off
Dublin weather: Met Eireann's numerous warnings as Ireland braces for gale force winds
To get the latest news to your inbox, sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter.
