Cllr calls for modular homes to tackle North Tipp's 'acute' housing shortage

A COUNCILLOR made an impassioned plea for the construction of modular homes to tackle North Tipperary's “acute” housing shortage, during the recent monthly of Nenagh Municipal District in Nenagh Civic Offices.
Cllr Seamus Morris said the Council should use its land in Stereame Business Park in Nenagh Town to build modular housing to accommodate those who cannot afford housing or who are homeless. He said the new modular buildings could also accommodate “essential workers”, who are needed for the local economy but cannot afford housing.
“It seems to me,” commented Cllr Morris, “that our focus on Stereame Business Park has weakened in recent times. Now that we have a new wastewater treatment plant on the way we should refocus. Stereame would be ideal for modular housing rather than concrete based housing. It would be ideal for essential workers. Stereame is shovel ready.” He praised the Council's modular homes in Clonmel and Thurles. “I think they are beautiful homes.”
He pointed out that the housing staff in Nenagh is under severe pressure. “They are very short of houses in the housing department. It's a bad situation. We shouldn't look down our noses at modular homes. They will tackle our county's acute housing and homeless problem.” The councillor said he's aware of people who are working who are falling into homelessness. He said he's dealing with a woman at the moment, with two children, who is working, and she's homeless. He pointed out that prefabricated modular homes could be delivered far more quickly than traditional block-built homes.
“Nenagh has so much going for it,” he remarked. “The one thing we are short of is houses.”
He also pointed out that it was quite clear from the answers that he had recently received from Tipperary County Council “that no matter what we do as a council during our Budget meeting it is not going to meet the requirements we as a Council are expected to deliver in terms of services. There is a need for a national review as to how local government is funded. There is no point in us welcoming Minister after Minister into Tipperary while at the same time being expected to carry out even more services with less and less funding. In the Nenagh Municipal District there are at least two houses waiting for a front door for over two years. How is that for climate action? Meanwhile we have spent over €700,000 on new unused cycleways on the Dublin road in Nenagh Town.”
The Councillor said that the answer to being expected to deliver more and more services with less and less money isn't “more dependence on the Ratepayers or LPT but proper local government funding.”
He added that apart from the housing issue Nenagh town is doing very well. “To be honest with you it is very easy to sell Nenagh town at the moment. It's looking very well. A lot of businesses are pretty happy. All of this positivity has come about from extremely hard work and dedication by many people in the Council. I think there is an appreciation amongst many in the general public for all the hard work that the Council is doing.” He praised Rosemary Joyce, Senior Executive Officer, for her love of the town and her very hard work.
He also asked why the proposed Nenagh River Walkway seems to have “dropped down the line?”
Liam Brett, Director of Services, pointed out that the Nenagh River Walk project is under the Active Travel Scheme. “There has been significant movement on it. A little bit more work is needed before it goes to the next stage.”
Cllr John Carroll commented: “I feel the progress with Active Travel has gone down a bit.”
Regarding Cllr Morris' Stereame modular housing proposal, the Director said, “Nenagh needs all types of housing.”

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