COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, November 09, 2015

QUESTION NO.35

QUESTION: Councillor F. Warfield

Will South Dublin County Council outline for elected representatives the answers to the following.

The cost of modular housing units;

The provider;
The length of time they will be used for the council;
The length of time any family will be housed in them;
The time it will take to construct and put in place;
This verses the time it would take to move on already approved builds;
The cost verses the cost of house build;
The council's contribution to maintenance;

The location of the units;
Whether the families being accommodated have been consulted and what choice they have been offered;
Families stance on the housing list if they accept a unit;
The criteria for prioritising the allocation of the units;
Land Use - How many plots are being used for these modular houses and what impact does that have on the future use of this land and for building social housing?

REPLY:

The Minister for the Environment community and local government has advised that the Government has approved the delivery of 500 units of modular housing for homeless families across Dublin.Modular housing accommodation is intended to offer a greater level of stability for families while move-on options to long-term independent living are identified and secured. In addition such arrangements are envisaged to facilitate a more coordinated needs assessment and support planning for access to all required services, including welfare, health and housing services. 

The aim is to have an initial 22 units in place by mid December in Dublin City Council area with a further 128 units to follow through a fast-tracked procurement.  350 units will then be provided through a national procurement framework overseen by the office for Government procurement.

The Dublin authorities will agree an proportionate distribution of the 500 units.

Dublin City Council has started the accelerated restricted procedure through e-tenders for the erection /installation of  22 no. 3 bed - 5 person 2-storey, rapid delivery housing units by Mid December 2015.  South Dublin County Council will be monitoring progress of this initiative and should be more informed following this process.

 Those allocated to the modular units as advised by the Minister will not be considered housed and will remain on the Councils Social Housing list. They will remain ‘homeless’ for statistical purposes. the modular housing proposal is to provide familes who are homeless a better environment where their family life will be minimally disrupted.  The homes will be built to all necessary building standards with the sites being selected on the basis of access to community infrastructure and services.