Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 December 2017
298. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his Department has offered the option of modular housing to the various local authorities which currently have long housing waiting lists; the uptake in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52540/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is working closely with all local authorities in relation to increasing and accelerating the delivery of a range of social housing programmes and supports, including rapid build homes. There has been significant pressure to ramp-up rapid build delivery, which local authorities have been responding to positively.
As the Deputy will be aware, rapid delivery housing comprises the delivery of housing developments within a programme, which shows overall time savings, compared with traditional build programmes. To assist in accelerating social housing delivery, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), in January 2017, established a Framework Agreement with 12 Design and Build contractors for the provision of rapid delivery housing. This Framework Agreement is available to all local authorities and approved housing bodies (AHBs) to use for social housing projects and provides an easy access route to contractors, who have passed a suitability assessment stage and are specialist providers who are well placed to supply rapid delivery housing. Clearly, the Framework Agreement will save time on design, procurement and on the construction of social housing and aids achievement of the targets set out in Rebuilding Ireland.
The question of utilising rapid build methodologies and other innovative construction technologies, including modular is, ultimately, a matter for consideration by each local authority and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in the context of individual projects. My Department is, however, strongly encouraging the use of rapid build methodologies, including modular build, where suitable for accelerated delivery of social housing units and considerable progress is being made, with well in excess of 500 rapid build units advancing at this stage and I intend to publish a list of all new rapid build projects early in the New Year.
My Department has held information sessions with Local Authorities and AHBs to alert them to the possibilities of modular/rapid delivery, and familiarise them with the product and the process, with a further information session scheduled later this month, including a visit for local authorities and AHBs to a rapid delivery scheme under construction. We will continue to work with local authorities and AHBs to accelerate the delivery of all housing, including rapid build, in order to tackle the current housing waiting lists and to deliver homes, as quickly as possible, to those who need them.
