Mr. Dick Brady:

A question was raised on the difference in cost between the units. In 2014 we suggested the possibility of using modular or rapid build housing. There was outcry across the country. Everybody assumed that we meant school prefabs that we all remember as being disastrous places in which we spent some, if not all, of our youth. In order to dispel some of those views we set up - with the industry - a demonstration project to contribute to the debate on the use of modular rapid build housing. Six companies from the industry, to which I am very grateful, came forward and said they would take part in the demonstration. We set aside a site and set up the demonstration project to allow the public and politicians to have a look at what might be possible with modular rapid build housing and to dispel some of the rumour or fears regarding the view of "old school prefab". The Government had a look at that, and in fairness to the Minister, the Taoiseach and other politicians who came to see the site, they said they would move forward with the idea, with a couple of additional stipulations. One of those stipulations was that the lifespan of a building had to be 60 years. The second stipulation on the advice note was that the units must comply with all building standards. Another requirement was that we could not use the name "modular" because there were other building technologies that could be brought to bear on the situation which might be just as good as a modular build. With these in mind the tenders went out and we are now where we are.