Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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123. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the delivery of modular units to provide emergency accommodation for Ukrainian refugees. [33084/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia’s armed forces in February this year, Ireland has welcomed almost 50,000 Ukrainian people who have fled the war in their country. The EU’s Temporary Protection Directive provides the legal framework for assisting Ukrainians entering the EU who are officially called Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs). The Government’s overall humanitarian response is coordinated with our EU partners and other countries. Because of the sudden and unprecedented numbers of new arrivals in the State, over such a short period of time, the Government, of necessity, has had to use a range of accommodation sources to facilitate displaced Ukrainians. These include hotels, guesthouses, former religious buildings, sports halls, youth hostels, scout dens, arenas, holiday villages and tented camps as well as space in privately owned homes pledged through the Irish Red Cross.

On 11^thApril, the Government agreed that the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) would lead on addressing the medium and long-term need to develop capacity for Ukrainian arrivals including the possible provision of modular accommodation. A Task-force was set up, led by the DHLGH, to oversee a 3-streamed approach to modular, refurbishments and new builds.

Arising from a Memorandum from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, considered on 26^thApril, the Government decided on a range of measures to boost the supply of accommodation for refugees arriving from Ukraine. These measures included a rapid build, volumetric modular units, option the evaluation of which was to be led by the Office of Public Works (OPW).

The OPW in conjunction with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) representing specialist modular manufacturers and main contractors, developed an exemplar design and specification to ensure Building Regulation compliance. The design is based exclusively on rigid frame volumetric structures which represents the best method, having regard to the need for quality, speed, and simplicity of design and production, to achieve the scale of programme required.

The modular prototype that has been designed is a highly energy efficient (BER A2) durable single storey unit (with a useful life of 60 years). The 60 year lifespan was chosen to be consistent with housing standards and to maximise the long-term value to the exchequer, of the significant upfront investment involved, by providing units that can meet future accommodation needs, once the humanitarian crisis, induced by the War in Ukraine, has passed.

On 28^thJune, 2022, the Government authorised the roll-out of a modular homes programme to provide accommodation for 2,000 Ukrainians, predominantly women and children, in 500 family units at several sites across Ireland. Since then, my Office has been working collaboratively with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as the Lead Department, and a range of other bodies such as the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, local authorities, Irish Water, ESB networks and Open Eir to deliver the modular housing programme. Sisk and Son is the main contractor that has been engaged to manage the site enabling works and to arrange for the procurement, transportation and installation of the modular units. Site evaluation works are being undertaken by my Office in collaboration with Sisk to finalise the list of sites necessary for the programme. My Office is also supporting the Department of Children, Equality, Disability and Youth with their comprehensive programme of engagement with representatives of local communities adjacent to sites under consideration for the installation of modular units. Enabling works are scheduled to start shortly on a number of sites that have been prioritised for early development with a view to completing the overall programme for the installation and occupation of the 500 units on a phased basis up to end February 2023.

The successful delivery of these units will meet the Governments objective to provide new sources of accommodation, as part of the State’s humanitarian response to the Ukrainian crisis, and will also provide the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with a flexibility of response to accommodation demand that is not currently available.