Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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20. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to fast-track the delivery of modular units for emergency accommodation; and if he envisages any potential for legal challenge from commercial interests. [38225/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The Government has approved the delivery of 500 units of modular housing for homeless families across Dublin. It is intended to have the first 150 units delivered as quickly as possible in the Dublin City Council administrative area, with the City Council acting as the contracting authority. The Council is aiming to secure the delivery of an initial fast-tracked 22 of these units by mid December, with the remaining 128 units to follow by late Q1 2016. A further 350 units will then be provided across the four local authorities in the Dublin region through a national procurement framework overseen by the Office for Government Procurement, with expected construction on sites by mid-2016.

This programme of modular housing provision is being implemented to mitigate the issues associated with an increasing volume of homeless families accommodated in inappropriate commercial hotel arrangements. The units will provide emergency accommodation in the first instance, offering a greater level of stability while move-on options to long-term independent living are identified and secured. Furthermore, such arrangements will facilitate more coordinated needs assessment and support planning for access to all required services, including welfare, health and housing services. Any legal issues which may arise in the procurement of the units will be a matter for the relevant contracting authorities concerned.