Councillors slam €20m modular housing units plan for the county
By Maurice Garvey
COUNCILLORS have slammed the likelihood that South Dublin County Council will spend up to €20 million on modular housing units - citing private houses for sale which represent better "value for money."
The council are currently in the process of identifying suitable locations for the provision of the units for emergency accommoadtion, and anticipate building between 100 to 105 modular houses.
The Government approved the delivery of 500 modular units for homeless families across Dublin last year.
Dublin City Council have already begun to install 22 units in Ballymun, and are expected to install a further 128 units in the city through a fast-tracked programme.
This includes 24 modular units in Cherry Orchard and 29 units on Mourne Road in Crumlin.
Councillors in Dublin City Council blasted the decision to “rush through” the proposals last November.
With each unit costing approximately €190,000 to build, concerns over value for money and potential impact on communities and families living in the units, have been to the fore.
Fears also exist that the units – which are designed for short-term use – will become long-term solutions.
Sinn Féin Councillor Louise Dunne forwarded a motion at South Dublin County Council this week, calling for the council to use the government funding for modular houses, to purchase houses on the private market instead.
Cllr Dunne said she viewed 198 properties on Daft within the electoral area for an average price of €200,000, and “can’t understand why the council don’t utilise these properties for homeless families.”
The majority of Cllr Dunne’s fellow members shared her concerns.
Independent Councillor Dermot Looney said it seems the government have “decided entirely against building social housing”
“They should be built to a high standard otherwise we are doing people a disservice,” said Cllr Looney.
Independent Councillor Dermot Richardson cited the presence of “long-term apartment blocks lying idle” in the county and blasted social housing units being introduced to the “same areas all the time.”
Families allocated to modular housing will remain on the council housing list.
Director of Services for Housing and Community Services Billy Coman said said he didn’t envisage the modular houses making a significant dent in available housing stock, but that the proposals are part of an overall “jigsaw.”
He said he envisaged the units would be used the in the same way as temporary housing units in Tallaght Cross.
“We are still faced with a large bill for hotel accommodation, it’s why we looked at Tallaght Cross and other options,” said Mr Coman.
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