People Before Profit Councillors Conor Reddy and Hazel De Nortúin have submitted an emergency motion to Dublin City Council's January meeting addressing reports of proposed bye-law changes that could limit the activities of on-street food services (soup runs).
The motion highlights the critical role these services play in supporting homeless individuals and others facing food insecurity. Soup runs provide an indispensable lifeline, offering meals, clothing, and other essential items to those in need, seven days a week. These services fill significant gaps left by private emergency accommodation providers, which restrict meal times and fail to provide kitchen access to residents.
Councillor Reddy stated, “Soup runs meet an urgent need in our city, particularly for people dissatisfied with the inadequate provisions in emergency accommodation and those experiencing food insecurity outside of homelessness. Any restrictions on these services would only deepen the crisis for some of the most vulnerable in our society.”
He added that a report written by Mary Higgins in 2021, quoted in media coverage of the proposed bye-law changes was “inherently limited by the fact that Mary Higgins interviewed just four soup runs and no service users”. The true agenda here is clear, it's the same agenda that saw street traders raided by Gardai and Customs before Christmas - powerful people want to hide poverty from view and to push working class people out of the city centre. The big retailers, the property investors and hospitality industry are taking over our city, we have to take it back”.
It is now up to the Lord Mayor and Council Management to decide whether the emergency motion will be heard. In the meantime, Councillors Reddy and De Nortúin will meet with soup run operators in the coming days to hear their concerns and plan how to oppose any bye-law changes that could undermine these vital supports.
Councillor De Nortúin added, “We need greater consultation with these services and a commitment to ensure continuity of service for those who rely on them. With over 15,000 homeless and record numbers in food insecurity, this is not the time to restrict support for those who need it most.”