Tóibín hits out at spend of up to €450,000 on modular homes

Modular units being constructed for refugees are costing between €387,920 and €443,531 apiece, figures released to the Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, TD, have shown.

Describing the costs as "yet another example of incredible government waste and overspend", Deputy Tóibín said the figures do not include the cost of purchasing the sites or land.

"These units are temporary, and will not last more than 50 or 60 years, yet more has been spent on them by the government than it would cost to purchase an actual real concrete house which could remain in public ownership for centuries," Deputy Tóibín told the Westmeath Examiner.

He said the modular units represent a hugely expensive short term fix and an unforgivable waste of public money, on top of the "billions" being paid out to private companies to accommodate asylum seekers in hotels.

"In the long run, it would be far cheaper for the government to purchase or construct housing or accommodation centres, be it for Irish people, refugees or homeless people," he stated.

"That way, a permanent asset would remain in public ownership, and could be sold for a profit in years to come if it was not needed."

Deputy Tóibín went on to point out that there are more than 15,000 people homeless in this country.

"We have more than 4,000 council houses empty in the state and many more vacant properties owned by the HSE and OPW. There are enough empty council houses in this country to accommodate all the homeless people in this country.

"Sitting on empty buildings indefinitely in the teeth of this housing crisis is as sickening a form of waste as the overspending is. The trend with this government and with local authorities is the same – they sit on empty properties which they actually own, while simultaneously paying high rents for private properties to accommodate public clients in."

The Meath man went on to criticise what he described as a discrepancy between the rules around construction or refurbishment of properties for asylum seekers and refugees and for other homeless people: "I know of families facing eviction because of the tight rules and regulations around modular homes, but on the other hand an office block could be turned into migrant accommodation without a single sentence appearing on the An Bord Pleanála website," he said.

"All Aontú is asking for here is consistency, equality and value for money."