Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2024
479. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail all of the buildings that were bought by his Department to house people from Ukraine, International Protection applicants and people within the Direct Provision sector; if he will detail how many of these buildings are in use for those purposes and how many are in other uses and how many are idle. [3945/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of commitments made in A White Paper to end Direct Provision and Establish a new International Protection Support Service the development of a community accommodation model for International Protection applicants was initiated with the purchase of 37 properties. These properties are a mix of 2/3/4 bed apartments and houses and some larger properties (10 bed plus). The properties are located in 12 counties (Clare, Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford).
An Expression of Interest competition was undertaken to commission Approved Housing Bodies to operationalise the properties purchased as supported accommodation for vulnerable applicants. The Approved Housing Bodies commissioned through this process are currently working with this Department to operationalise these properties on a phased basis over the coming months.
In respect of the State’s humanitarian response to the Ukrainian crisis, the government has developed a rapid build housing programme to provide accommodation for families fleeing the war in Ukraine. The programme aims to provide short-term accommodation up to 2,800 Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection at several sites across Ireland. This programme is being delivered in collaboration with the OPW.
This project – the first of its kind – is an important one as it will provide a blueprint for future developments. As each phase has brought new challenges, these challenges will provide important future learnings. The emphasis in this programme is on delivery of quality homes which will enhance local environments and this has been a priority.
Each site will have roads, footpaths, street lighting, community facilities, including green spaces, fully in line with Local Authority planning guidance. The homes are 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 is limited as the units are manufactured off site.
Work has been completed on the first seven sites at Mahon in Cork, Farnham Road in Cavan, Doorly Park in Sligo, Thurles in Tipperary, Claremorris in Mayo, Clonminch in Offaly and Rathdowney in Laois. These sites comprise of 310 rapid build homes and are accommodating approximately 1240 individuals. The final stage of the programme will be delivered in 2024.
The completion timelines are subject to any technical issues arising during construction. There were a number of such issues that arose over the past few months relating to site conditions, remedial works, boundaries, ESB connections, etc. that delayed earlier forecasted dates of completion on sites included in the programme.
In March 2023, in addition to the OPW Rapid build programme, Columb Barracks in Mullingar was selected by Government as 1 of 5 ‘proof of concept sites’ in order to examine the potential of ‘pod’ style accommodation.
Initially, it was agreed that 50 ‘pod’ style units would be delivered, accommodating up to 200 BOTPs in total. However, it was agreed in September 2023 that a further 12 units would be added bring the eventual capacity to 248.
The first 50 units were complete in mid-December 2023 and it is expected that all 62 units will be complete early in Quarter 1 2024. Work is ongoing with IOM to identify the Ukrainian families who will be allocated the units when they are ready.
