Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2022
421. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the sites that have been identified for modular buildings in County Longford in order to accommodate those within the IPAS system. [61018/22]
View answer422. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the work that has been carried out in terms of developing and planning sites identified for modular buildings in County Longford in order to accommodate those within the IPAS system. [61019/22]
View answer423. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a decision will be taken on whether modular buildings will proceed on a site in Longford; and the location in which this will be in order to accommodate those within the IPAS system. [61020/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 421 to 423, inclusive, together.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive immediately afterwards, over 59,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in Ukraine and have sought refuge here in Ireland. Approximately 47,000 of those are being provided with accommodation from the State.
In response to the crisis, the Government has sought to provide a range of accommodation solutions in every county in Ireland. This has primarily involved the contracting of hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs, but also has included the use of Scout Halls, Religious Congregations’ accommodation, vacant student accommodation and other locations. In addition, around 5,450 people displaced by the war in Ukraine have taken up places in the private homes of Irish people who have volunteered their rooms or vacant houses for use.
As part of this considerable national effort, the Government has also approved the construction of 500 rapid build homes on State owned land, which will aim to provide accommodation to 2000 individuals in family units.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) is leading on the design, development and delivery of any accommodation to be produced through rapid build construction, including associated site enabling works on available and suitable State land. My Department is the Approving Authority for the Programme and has responsibility for the ownership of these rapid build homes and their future use.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage sought information from public authorities on potential sites in their ownership which might be suitable for the installation of rapid build homes. On foot of the responses received, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage provided a shorter list of potentially suitable sites to DCEDIY and OPW and this included a number of sites in Longford.
The Department is currently rolling out this first phase of the programme of rapid build homes with sites identified in Cork, Cavan, Tipperary, Sligo and Claremorris. Further engagement with public representatives and communities will take place in the coming weeks and early in 2023 regarding the next phase of sites.
As the Deputy is aware, the development of rapid build homes to assist the Ukrainian humanitarian response will greatly support families fleeing from war and very difficult conditions in Ukraine.
For further information on the project please see attached link to a gov.ie webpage ttps://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef882-rapid-build-housing/.
