Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 April 2016
775. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost of the rapid build housing programme in Ballymun in Dublin 11; and the length of time the project took from the beginning of the process. [6672/16]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. With regard to rapid-delivery housing, in October 2015 the Government approved a programme to deliver 500 units of rapid-delivery housing for homeless households across Dublin, with an initial 22 units in Poppintree, Ballymun. In November 2015, Dublin City Council entered into a contract for the rapid-delivery units in Ballymun at a cost of €4.2m excluding VAT. The units are now complete and surround works are in train, with a view to occupancy by the end of this month.
This programme of rapid-delivery housing provision is being implemented to mitigate the issues associated with an increasing volume of homeless households accommodated in inappropriate commercial hotel arrangements. The units will provide emergency accommodation for those families currently in hotels in the first instance, offering a greater level of stability while move-on options to long-term independent living are identified and secured. Furthermore, such arrangements will facilitate more coordinated needs assessment and support planning for access to all required services, including welfare, health and housing services.
