Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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439. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the number of offers that his Department has received by private landowners and developers to build modular homes for accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection; the estimated number of planned units contained within such offers; and the average cost per unit across the offers put forward, in tabular form. [20395/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy.

My Department launched an online portal for developer-led modular accommodation on gov.ie where providers could submit expressions of interest in November 2023. The portal sought offers for developments with a capacity of up to 200 BOTPs, encompassing the site, units and all management services associated with them. Modular accommodation may potentially provide a further sustainable medium-term solution to assist in meeting overall accommodation requirements, allowing BOTPs to integrate into communities and possibly setting the stage for future housing development at sites. This programme will help establish the feasibility of the approach from a cost perspective and the capacity of the private sector to deliver appropriate solutions.

My Department has currently paused accepting new Expressions of Interest for modular residential developments to accommodate Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs).

We are currently working on reviewing 129 No. modular Expressions of Interest. At this stage in the process it is not possible to quantify the number of units or the average cost per unit. Engagement with the relevant Local Authorities is also being undertaken as part of the review process.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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440. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of State-owned modular homes overseen by the Office of Public Works that have been delivered; the average cost per unit in each of the years 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and to provide a breakdown of the average capital costs of land and site servicing and costs of building and materials respectively, in tabular form. [20396/24]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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441. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of State-owned modular units that are currently in development; to specify the stage of development of each project; and the estimated average capital cost per project and per unit, in tabular form. [20397/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 440 and 441 together.

As part 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 who request it. The programme aims to provide short-term accommodation for up to 2,800 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) at several sites across Ireland. The Office of Public Works (OPW) is leading the development of this accommodation in conjunction with my Department.

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 are providing important future learnings.

The programme is being progressed under the emergency derogations from planning that were provided for by Government under S.I. No. 306 of 2022 – European Union (Planning and Development) (Displaced Persons from Ukraine Temporary Protection) Regulations, 2022.

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 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 is limited as the units are manufactured off site. In the future, the units have the potential to be utilised to address other accommodation challenges, including social housing and student accommodation.

At end of 2023 the first phase of seven sites were completed, totalling 310 units accommodating 1240 residents. These sites are at;

• Mahon, County Cork (64 units)
• Claremorris (28 units)
• Doorly Park, Sligo (22 units)
• Cavan town (28 units)
• Thurles (62 units)
• Clonminch, Offaly (64 units)
• Rathdowney, Laois (42 units)

• Backweston, Lucan, Dublin (132 units)
• Pollboy, Ballinasloe, Galway (64 units)
• Rathgoggin, Charleville, Cork (66 units)

A further HSE site in Haywood, Clonmel has been identified as viable by OPW to accommodate 82 units. Discussions are ongoing with the HSE to secure the site. There are a number of issues that have arisen over the past few months relating to site conditions, remedial works, boundaries, ESB connections, etc. This has delayed earlier forecasted dates of completion and also has led the department to make a decision to not fully complete the programme.

The cost of each unit is approximately €145,000 per unit (45m² / 484sqft), inclusive of supply, delivery and provision of loose electrical and household items. This is separate to the site development and utility connection costs, etc. relating to the overall development. As the project is still ongoing and further sites are under consideration, it is not possible to fully specify a final overall programme figure.