Sinn Féin will table an emergency motion to Dublin City Council next week, calling for a homeless hostel to be kept open.

The Brú hostel was opened at the end of last year, as part of the council’s Winter Strategy to prevent people sleeping rough in cold weather.

However, Sinn Féin has said the hostel should not be closed for the summer, as the facility is now an essential part of Dublin City Council’s homeless strategy.

Chairperson of Dublin City Council’s Housing Committee, Daithi Doolan explains why it makes sense for the hostel to be kept open: “It’s Government land, it’s owned by the people of Dublin.

We are asking the Government to allow this hostel to continue providing the essential services it does.

“Ive written to the chief executive and the new Minister for communications Denis Naughton asking them to work together to ensure this hostel continues to provide the level of service it is currently providing to the city of homeless population.”