OPW not in talks over additonal Cavan sites

The Office of Public Works (OPW) says there are “currently” no further discussions taking place with Cavan County Council regarding “additional” local sites for use in the delivery of the ongoing Rapid Build programme to rehome people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

However, the OPW does note that the “assessment of state owned sites across Ireland continues” in collaboration with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and with the Department of Housing and other government agencies to secure the “most viable sites” available.

Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia’s armed forces in February 2022 Ireland has welcomed close to 100,000 Ukrainian people under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive.

Despite early figures reporting construction, delivery and installation of each modular unit at around €280,000, the OPW states that in terms of cost information that “the overall project is still ongoing and further sites are under consideration to facilitate the additional units. Until that process is complete, it is not possible to fully specify a site or programme figure.”

However, the spokesperson accepts that “certain factors” such as inflation, initial supply chain “challenges”, the “need for significant remediation works” resulting in anticipated costs being “higher than the norm”, and economies of scale not being what they would be “normally” have had an impact.

Along with 28 modular homes were built at Farnham Road, Cavan Town, there are 64 units located in Mahon, Cork City, Claremorris, Mayo (28), Doorly Park, Sligo (22), and Thurles, Co. Tipperary (62)- totalling 204 units.

Work on all sites has been completed and were occupied between May and August 2023.

A further 106 homes are due to be delivered in Rathdowney, Co. Laois and Clonminch, Co. Offaly, with the government hoping to deliver 700 in total, a figure revised upwards from 500 in late 2022.

Further sites deemed suitable have been identified in Cork (Charleville), Galway (Ballinasloe) and Dublin /Kildare border (Backweston) and are at an early stage of development, with an expected completion dates between April and July 2024.

John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd was appointed as the main contractor to manage the site enabling works and to arrange for the procurement, transportation and installation of the rapid build homes.

The allocation policy for the modular units prioritises families of four located in the county or who had been residing in counties close to the build sites.

The sudden and unprecedented numbers of arrivals from Ukraine has, out of necessity, meant the government has had to house families using a range of alternative accommodations including hotels, guesthouses, former religious buildings, sports halls, youth hostels, scout dens, arenas, holiday villages and tented camps.

The rapid build prototype put in place is described by the OPW as “highly energy efficient” and durable with a structural 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,” added the spokesperson.