Over 60 modular homes planned for Ukrainian war refugees in Offaly

A TOTAL of 64 modular homes are to be constructed to accommodate refugees from the war in Ukraine on a site at Clonminch in Tullamore.

The houses will be built as part of a Government approved modular home project which will see 700 homes built and completed by July throughout the country.

Houses are due to be delivered from Easter and through April, May, June and July.

Each unit measures in the region of 45 square metres in area and costs approximately €145,000 to construct.

The homes will include a kitchen-dining-living area combined, a bathroom, a small bedroom and a large bedroom

The development is being managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and a meeting has taken place in recent weeks to brief local councillors and officials of Offaly County Council on the roll-out of the programme in Tullamore.

There will be further local engagement as work on the site proceeds a spokesperson for the OPW told the Tribune this week.

The spokesperson revealed the site at Clonminch was offered to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and the OPW.

The site was offered as a potentially suitable one to accommodate 64 units for families of four Ukrainian nationals per unit

The OPW has been asked by Government to develop the programme of rapid build modular homes on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth who is the Approving Authority for the programme. 

The OPW is the sponsoring agency for the purposes of rolling out the programme, with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage identifying sites that might be suitable. 

Once sites are offered an assessment is carried out  in terms of location and access to local facilities

The OPW then undertakes the necessary technical site assessments. 

When sites are identified as suitable, a  programme of engagement is carried out by DCEDIY which involves meeting with councillors and officials of local authorities, service providers, community groups etc.

The OPW is responsible for site preparation and the acquisition and installation of the homes onto the sites. 

Specific planning regulations in place for emergencies such as this allow for the development of rapid build accommodation quickly. 

However the sites can only be used for this purpose for a maximum of three years, after which a full routine planning process must take place to determine the future use of the sites.

All the sites will have roads, footpaths, street lighting and community facilities, including a play area and green spaces in line with local authority planning guidance. 

The homes will be highly energy efficient, durable units with a 60 year lifespan and the development of the sites will be conducted in an environmentally sustainable way to ensure that, post development, the site will enhance the local area.

Construction disruption will be limited as the units are manufactured off site.

DCEDIY will provide for the management and maintenance of the homes and sites once they are completed. 

DCEDIY is working with other departments and agencies regarding availability of  services.

The building of modular homes for Ukrainian refugees was raised with senior Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth officials at a meeting of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee recently. The meeting was also attended by  Ciarán O'Connor, OPW State architect.

Laois Offaly TD Brian Stanley is the chair of the Committee which monitors the spending of public money by Government Departments.

Under questioning from Deputy Stanely on the use of the  semi-detached prefabricated accommodation, Mr O'Connor  outlined a possible future use. 

He said the buildings, which are 45 sq metres, could be reconfigured by merging two together, to give one full-sized social house.

Mr O'Connor said there is another potential use. "We were cognisant of possible future use. It can be lifted and sent off to Ukraine as part of Ireland's aid to Ukraine later. It is a lift-and-plug house," he said.

The architect told Deputy Stanley that the homes would include a kitchen-dining-living area combined, a bathroom, a small bedroom and a large bedroom. He said up to four people could live in the semi-detached homes which have an  option for a pull-out sofa bed in the dining area.

He told the Committee that the buildings have a lifespan of a minimum of 60 years and the cost varies between five suppliers. The average build cost is €145,000. 

TDs were also told that it is  envisaged that approved housing bodies would manage maintenance.

The Department's Secretary General Mr Kevin McCarthy said there is "a  good communications plan" in respect of the modular housing programme.

"We have people on the ground engaging with communities and speaking to their representatives and their local public representatives," he said.

However, Deputy Stanley disagreed. "The point is that there has been zero communication. In this vacuum, the rumour mill gets going," he said.