Memories, 1963: ‘Jumping the housing queue’ claim

USING CITY HOME TO ‘JUMP HOUSING QUEUE’ CLAIM AT HEALTH AUTHORITY

dr. Richard Hayes, C.M.O., told the members at Saturday’s meeting of the Limerick Health Authority that he was afraid a lot of people were using the City Home in an effort to “jump the queue” for Corporation houses.

It had been alleged at the meeting that parents with children are being evicted from the City home before 8 o clock every morning irrespective of whether it was raining or not, and that they had to roam the streets of the city until evening time when they are re-admitted to the Home for shelter and that as a result of this a child got pneumonia.

The matter was raised by Mr Michael Lipper, B.C., who wanted to know if such were the case?

The City Manager, Mr T.P. MacDiarmada said if weather conditions were such that the families should not be discharged then the staff would see to it that they were not discharged each day. If they were unable to procure shelter they were re-admitted again at night time.

Mr Lipper - They are being discharged and one child was later re admitted with pneumonia due to the fact. I think it’s terrible to expel little kids because their parents cannot get houses.

Deputy S. Coughlan - That is exactly the position without splint or exaggeration. The people are evicted before 8 o’clock every morning. Sometimes they had to remain in parks until 9 o’clock at night. This is the situation which is prevailing.

Mr MacDiarmada said that there were families in the hospital at present.

Mr Lipper - One family of nine children has to be taken around the city all day.

Dr Richard Hayes, C.M.O., said that he was afraid that a lot of people were using the hospital in an effort to “jump the queue” for Corporation houses.

PROTEST AT MOVES TO CLOSE GRAND CANAL

a MOTION “viewing with deep concern” any move to close the Grand Canal at Dublin was passed unanimously at today’s meeting of the Limerick Harbour Board.

Mr M. W McGuire said that their aim should be to keep the old waterways open as long as possible. There had been a big increase in the number of pleasure craft using the canal to get here. The craft have increased five or six fold and to deny access to the eastern seaboard would be a retrograde step.