Lynam's Hotel on O'Connell Street could become a dedicated accommodation facility for the homeless, following an offer by Nama to facilitate its sale to Dublin City Council.
Five homeless families are facing eviction at the end of next month from the hotel, which is at the centre of a High Court dispute. Nama-appointed receiver Aidan Murphy of Crowe Horwath is seeking possession of the hotel from its operator, Theresa Andreucetti.
The hotel, which is currently taking bookings, is located near the Spire on Upper O’Connell Street.
Deadline
It was due to be vacated by August 1st but the deadline was extended until the end of the month to allow prior bookings to be honoured, and accommodation to be found for the homeless families.
As a receiver, Mr Murphy has a legal obligation to sell the property at its market value. However, it is understood Nama has told the council, and Minister for Housing Simon Coveney, it is willing to facilitate the sale of Lynam's to the council for use by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive.
Market value
“Nama has a long-standing policy of facilitating the acquisition by public bodies of property from its debtors or receivers, by affording public bodies the first option on the purchase on the basis of the property’ s assessed current market value,” a spokesman for the agency said.
A spokeswoman for the homeless executive said it and the council were “currently in negotiations in relation to Lynam’s Hotel and can offer no further comment at this time.”
When asked if Mr Coveney would be willing to fund the purchase a spokesman for the Department of Housing said: “If Dublin City Council sends in a submission to the department, the Minister will give it his full consideration.”
