Emergency accommodation providers will now be subject announced and unannounced inspections

Emergency accommodation in the private sector will be subject to regular inspections by council staff to ensure standards, a meeting of Meath County Council heard last week.

The Council has published a policy statement on standards in emergency accommodation in the private sector, setting out the necessary standards for accommodation and stating that there will be announced and unannounced inspection.

The policy was welcomed by Cllr Alan Lawes, a long time campaigner on homelessness, who said it was a major effort by the council to improve standards.

"We have a document now and can hold providers to it."

He noted the provision which stated service users should have ideally have a single occupancy room. "This doesn't happen at the moment. Could we have figures for those now in single occupancy so we can compare it over time."

Among the requirement listed in the policy document is that all buildings are safe, well maintained and in good repair and that there is suitable sanitary facilities including toilets, wash hand basins and fixed shower or bath and hot and cold water.

Effective heating and adequate ventilation, adequate natural light, necessary furniture, access to laundry facilities, suitable and adequate food storage and fire detection and alarm systems are all requirements

Ideally service users should have a single room, famiies should be accommodated as near as possible to their communities with access to play facilities.