THE Government agency with responsibility for public buildings has said it had no knowledge of "anti-homeless" sleeping spikes outside a Department of Social Welfare office.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) said that the building, on Lower Hatch Street in Dublin city, was rented and the grounds were run by a private company.
The spikes, which act as a deterrent to rough sleepers, had been placed on top of steps in front of a fenced-off door. However, last month they were removed by anti-homelessness campaigners. www.pmvtrust.ie
Fr Peter McVerry, who runs a trust to tackle homelessness, said that he was very concerned to hear about the appearance of the spikes.
Negative
"I'm absolutely disgusted by them. In general they send a message to homeless people that we don't want you, we don't want to deal with you, we just want you to go away," he told the Herald.
"I would be particularly worried that it sends a very negative message to homeless people."
"Most homeless people are homeless through no fault of their own and instead of these spikes we should be pressuring the Government to actually deal with homelessness," he added.
When the Herald tried to enquire who was responsible for the spikes and if they would be reinstalled, no party was willing to take responsibility.
A spokesperson for the Department of Social Protection said that it was the OPW that dealt with public buildings.
But a spokesperson for the OPW said that the property was privately owned and leased, with property management company HWBC responsible its condition.
HWBC declined to comment and referred queries back to the OPW.
Bryan Kelly, who works in the area, says that he was disgusted when he noticed the spikes.
He said: "The door is unused, and since it's blocked by plants and metal bars, it could hardly be argued that it's a fire exit and so needs to be kept clear of 'obstructions'."
There was anger in the UK earlier this summer, when it emerged that the spikes had been used outside a number of private businesses and in public areas.
London Mayor Boris Johnson even became embroiled in the controversy when he called for the spikes to be removed from an area. He called them "stupid".
LONDON: Council chiefs are being urged to launch an investigation after metal spikes were installed outside a luxury block of London flats to deter homeless people from sleeping in the doorway.
Negative
"I'm absolutely disgusted by them. In general they send a message to homeless people that we don't want you, we don't want to deal with you, we just want you to go away," he told the Herald.
"I would be particularly worried that it sends a very negative message to homeless people."
A spokesperson for the Department of Social Protection said that it was the OPW that dealt with public buildings.
But a spokesperson for the OPW said that the property was privately owned and leased, with property management company HWBC responsible its condition.
HWBC declined to comment and referred queries back to the OPW.
Bryan Kelly, who works in the area, says that he was disgusted when he noticed the spikes.
He said: "The door is unused, and since it's blocked by plants and metal bars, it could hardly be argued that it's a fire exit and so needs to be kept clear of 'obstructions'."
There was anger in the UK earlier this summer, when it emerged that the spikes had been used outside a number of private businesses and in public areas.
LONDON: Council chiefs are being urged to launch an investigation after metal spikes were installed outside a luxury block of London flats to deter homeless people from sleeping in the doorway.
The inch-high studs in the main entrance to the deluxe privately owned apartments in Southwark Bridge Road have provoked outrage as homelessness charities slammed the "inhumane" practice.
The spikes, which are thought to have been installed in the past month, are in a sheltered alcove opposite a hostel for homeless people with mental health problems.
Controversy grew over the weekend after a picture of the metal spikes was posted online, sparking outrage from people who compared them to the spikes used to keep birds away from buildings. David Wells said on Twitter: "These Anti homeless studs are like the spikes they use to keep pigeons off buildings. The destitute [are] now considered vermin."
By Saturday night a petition to remove the studs was approaching 1,000 signatures and several people had lodged formal complaints with Southwark council.
Katharine Sacks-Jones, head of policy and campaigns at homelessness charity Crisis, said: "It is a scandal that anyone should sleep on the streets in 21st-century Britain. Yet over the last three years rough sleeping has risen steeply across the country and by a massive 75% in London.
"Behind these numbers are real people struggling with a lack of housing, cuts to benefits and cuts to homelessness services to help them rebuild their lives. They might have suffered a relationship breakdown, a bereavement or domestic abuse. They deserve better than to be moved on to the next doorway along the street. We will never tackle rough sleeping with studs in the pavement. Instead we must deal with the causes."
A spokeswoman for Southwark council said it would look into any official complaints but that there was little it could do unless the studs were in breach of planning regulations.
Councillor Peter John, leader of the council, said: "Southwark council is aware of concerns raised regarding the installation of spikes outside a privately owned building on Southwark Bridge Road to prevent rough sleeping.
"The council can look into health and safety or planning concerns that are reported to us. With regards to people sleeping rough the council has a dedicated officer who works closely with organisations like St Mungo's [a homelessness charity], who have a 'no second night out' policy to ensure rough sleepers are found shelter and support."
HOMELESS IN LONDON ? HELPLINES: www.mungosbroadway.org.uk & www.streetlink.org.uk
OR Call: 0300 500 0914
OR Call: 0300 500 0914
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