Call for tougher probes of emergency and asylum housing

Urine-stained bedclothes, insect infestations, and substandard facilities for children in emergency and asylum housing can only be rooted out with tougher inspections, the Government has been told.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy is being urged to consider involving health inspectors in emergency urban units and asylum-seeker facilities after fresh concerns about standards.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) met with Sinn Féin’s housing spokesman, Eoin Ó Broin, who is pushing for its inspectors to look into sub-standard housing nationwide.