The Lord Mayor of Dublin is seeking to establish public showers in the city in response to demand from groups such as migrant workers living in overcrowded conditions who do not have access to proper washing facilities.
Cllr Vincent Jackson is supporting plans, originally drawn up by Trust, the charity for homeless people, to provide facilities which would be available to all members of the public.
The facilities would be modelled on the Iveagh Public Baths, which were built on Dublin City Council land and opened 100 years ago. The facility is now in private ownership and has been converted into an exclusive gym.
Cllr Jackson said he will be discussing the plans with senior officials this week and has suggested sites such as Grangegorman or the docklands as a potential location.
"I'm also hoping to have a round-table discussion on this issue. There is an emerging need for this. It will need to be something that is open to all people that isn't just regarded as being a homeless initiative," he added.
Alice Leahy, director and co-founder of Trust, said there was an urgent need for public shower facilities which could help prevent people becoming homeless by making it easier to overcome temporary difficulties.
"Our motivation in making this proposal is to help in not only meeting the needs for very basic services for society's most marginalised, but also to help prevent those who find themselves in temporary difficulties such as newly arrived immigrants."
In a submission to the Lord Mayor, Trust said the facilities could be directed at a wide range of people such as backpackers; long-distance commuters not staying in Dublin overnight; older people afraid to use baths at home in case they get into difficulty; residents of hostels and B&B accommodation; newly arrived immigrants who find themselves homeless; and the existing homeless population.
The charity has proposed making showers available for 15 minutes at a fixed fee. Those who cannot afford the service could be provided with vouchers from community welfare officers, it has suggested.
"We are acutely aware of the problems related to drug-taking in public toilets, but a well-managed facility for which people pay, with some arrangement for those with limited resources, would make a huge contribution to the health and morale of many," Ms Leahy said.
The issue of homelessness among migrant workers has emerged as an issue of serious concern in recent months.
While most workers from new EU states in central and eastern Europe make a success of their stay here, a substantial number have experienced difficulties.
