Ukrainian families to move into Clonmel modular homes next month

The first residents are expected to move into a modular housing development in Clonmel in a matter of weeks.

Local Fine Gael TD Michael Murphy has been told by the Migration Minister that the controversial Heywood Road site is almost ready to house families fleeing the war in Ukraine.

The plans have divided the local community in Clonmel since they first became public last year.

Those opposed to the move placed pickets outside the HSE owned site on the Heywood Road when work first began.

The completion of the 82 units will bring the final output from the Rapid Build programme to 654 homes across the country with the capacity to accommodate 2,640 people.

Local Fine Gael TD Michael Murphy recently sought an update from Minister Jim O’Callaghan on the progress being made in Clonmel – according to the Migration Minister the first residents are expected to move-in in early July.

The Minister also told Deputy Murphy that nationally the units will cost €436,000 each including site development – however the cost in Clonmel is believed to be higher.

Minister O’Callaghan pointed out that as the units have a 60-year lifespan, their future use is central to the Programme.

Individual discussions with each Local Authority regarding potential future uses have commenced and considerations are at an early stage.

To ask the Minister for Justice; Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the modular housing development in Clonmel; the completion and handover date, per unit cost and the long-term strategy for the site (details supplied); the steps being taken to prepare a policing plan; the engagement that has taken place between his Department, the OPW, local Gardaí and the local community; and the timeline and details for the occupancy of the site. (Details Supplied) Having regard to my serious concerns around security of the site

Works are now nearing completion at the final site of the Rapid Build programme, in Haywood, Clonmel. This will bring the final output of the programme to 654 homes, with the capacity to accommodate 2,640 people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

The completion date is in the coming weeks with the first residents expected to take up occupation in early July. Site security is in ongoing contact with local representatives of An Garda Síochána who have been kept informed of estimated occupation timelines.

Community engagement in respect of each of the Rapid Build sites has been extensive. As with all other sites, my Department’s Community Engagement Team (CET) briefed local representatives at the outset of the Haywood development with the assistance of the Local Authority and the OPW.  Over the course of the Programme, the CET remain available to provide information to local representatives during each development.

To ensure that the local community had access to factual information about the development, an information leaflet prepared in co-ordination with the OPW, An Garda Síochána and the Local Authority, was delivered early in the process to local homes. This circulation was followed up by the holding of a public meeting on 24 July 2024 also attended by OPW, Sisk and CET members.

In January of this year, a site visit was hosted for local elected representatives. More recently in April, the CET lead participated in a meeting, convened by the Local Authority, with key stakeholders in the development to discuss good co-operation on service delivery. Further engagement will take place with community stakeholders to appraise them of timelines in advance of residents taking up accommodation. In addition, it is also planned to request the Local Authority Integration Team (LAIT) to support engagement and integration with local community stakeholders and agencies.

The costs of the Rapid Build Programme have developed in real time, with increases reflecting challenges that have presented in the urgency  of the project itself, and the wider economic and supply chain environment. In addition, many of the sites required significant remedial work to make them ready for housing development or were smaller than initially envisaged and therefore didn’t deliver anticipated economies of scale.

It is estimated that the final project cost will be in the region of €285.3m; definitive costs cannot be provided at this time as works are ongoing.

This equates to an average projected cost of the development and delivery of each unit across all sites of €436K. This includes the cost of the physical units, inclusive of supply, delivery and provision of loose electrical and household items. It should be noted that this figure also includes average site development and utility connection costs which amount to approximately €271K per unit. The units are 45m² (484sqft).

While the cost of the Programme has been significant, the cost comparison of rapid build homes to house 2,640 people when compared with providing commercial accommodation for the same number are favourable, and it is estimated that it will take just five years to deliver significant savings to the State.

In addition, as the units have a 60-year lifespan, their future use is central to the Programme. Each of the sites has been developed to be compliant with building regulations and the units are of sufficient size to allow for alternative housing use. In addition, each site has roads, footpaths, street lighting and community facilities including a play area and green spaces, in line with Local Authority planning guidance. These design considerations at the outset ensure that the Rapid Build units have the potential for future use commensurate with their significant lifespan.

A multi-stakeholder process has commenced to determine the long-term strategy for the sites, post the Temporary Protection Directive. This process commenced in March of this year with the formation of a working group chaired by officials from my Department and including representation from the OPW and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Facilitated by the County and City Management Association (CCMA), members of the working group met with the Directors of Service for Housing and Planning, or their nominees, at each of the ten Local Authorities in late April to appraise them of the intention of securing an alternative future use for the units post temporary protection.

Further to this meeting, individual discussions with each Local Authority regarding potential future uses have commenced and considerations are at an early stage.  When options are further developed local elected representatives will be informed of the potential future plans under consideration.