Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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135. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the beds realisable through the current planned modular housing works. [58272/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Government tasked the Office of Public Works (OPW) to lead on the design, development and delivery of any state accommodation to be produced through rapid build construction, including associated site enabling works on available and suitable State land. My Department is the Approving Authority for the Programme and has responsibility for the ownership of the modular units and their future use. The OPW is the Sponsoring Agency for the purpose of rolling out the Programme.

The Government has approved the construction of 500 rapid build homes for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection fleeing the war in Ukraine. These homes will have the potential to house up to 2,000 individuals in family units. The objective is to install 500 units by February/March 2023.

All sites will have roads, footpaths, street lighting and community facilities, including a playground and green spaces fully in line with Local Authority planning guidance. These 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.

Deputies and Senators in each constituency where the rapid build homes are planned will receive a full briefing from officials of my Department and the OPW, which will explain the scope and duration of the project and will confirm that these units will be used primarily to provide short-term accommodation to families with children. DCEDIY and the OPW are also engaging directly with Local Authority officials in respect of each site.

The Community Response Forum coordinates the community led response in the provision of assistance and support to Ukrainian refugees as they are accommodated around the county. The partner agencies and organisations who form part of the Community Response Forum will work through their individual remits to support the integration of displaced persons into local areas.

My Department is funding additional workers in each local authority to support the integration of new arrivals into the local areas. The Government is also providing funding for community initiatives to support persons displaced by the war in Ukraine.