The National Children’s Hospital is facing a “chronic shortage of nurses in the city” due to a lack of accommodation, Senator Marie Sherlock has warned. 

The INMO is warning that there could be further delays to the hospital’s opening if nurses cannot find affordable accommodation in the Dublin.

The nurses organisation is calling for affordable accommodation to be provided for the thousands of staff of who will be working at the hospital.

Around 5,000 staff will work at the hospital when it is completed and the INMO is warning that average rents in Dublin 8 could represent more than 70% of a newly-qualified nurses take-home pay.

On The Pat Kenny Show, Labour Senator Marie Sherlock said nurses looking to live and work in Dublin are facing a “vicious cycle” as the lack of accommodation drives up the price of rent.

“We're seeing this day in and day out across many sectors now," Senator Sherlock said.

"Workers saying to us that they want to stay in the job that they love [but] the reality is that the supply isn’t there.” 

Inner city shortage 

Senator Sherlock said the property currently under development will do little to help struggling nurses.

“More than half of what has been given planning permission or what’s under construction is actually build-to-rent co-living or student accommodation,” she said.  

The senator said there are as few as 10 properties available for rent in Dublin 8 and 20 properties available in Dublin 7.

She said health services know there is a “very serious crisis” regarding recruitment all staff needed in the NCH.

“People are voting with their feet,” she told the show “They are training here and then they’re leaving because they cannot afford to stay in this city.” 

Short-term lettings 

Senator Sherlock said the Government need to address the regulation of short-term lettings in central Dublin. 

“We have properties available for rent, but it’s just going to where the most amount of money can be made.” 

Senator Sherlock said the Government first discussed introducing a register for short-term lettings in 2019 but “they have done little to nothing about it”.  

“There has been no regulation over the sector in recent years,” she said, “We need a strong planning system that can put shape on all of that.” 

Construction workers 

Irish Property Owners Association (IPOA) Chair Mary Conway said construction workers coming from abroad are also facing accommodation shortages that will delay work on the NCH.

Conway, who is a real estate agent, told the show that in January she was contacted by a construction company looking for accommodation for 10 specialist window contractors immediately.  

“They have the workers, they have the work, but they don’t have anywhere for them to stay,” Ms Conway said.  

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