Call for modular homes for those on housing lists

The need to provide rapid-build modular homes due to the shortage of emergency accommodation in Westmeath has been highlighted by Cllr Frankie Keena. Speaking at a meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District, Cllr Keena said: “I am receiving regular representations from people facing horrific circumstances,” he said.

He explained that he was raising the motion to look for support to contact Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien regarding the need to build a scheme of rapid-build modular houses to ease the burden on the council in addressing the social housing issue.

“Some modular homes have already been provided in the country for certain nationalities, but my proposal is to provide a scheme in Athlone to cater for the needs of Irish people who are being stressed and worried out of their minds with Notice to Quit (NTQs) letters arriving in their letterboxes. These people are currently on our local authority housing list and probably in receipt of HAP or RAS rent allowances,” said Cllr Keena.

He added that modular houses could be used as interim housing for people who receive NTQs and are faced with the threat of homelessness. “It would give the council breathing space to help locate a more permanent home for them.”

He said he was aware the Dept of Housing allocated €94m to councils for building social housing using modern methods of construction on state-owned land. Cllr Keena welcomed that but said they need “a quick fix solution with modular builds to be used as interim step-down housing”. He added they need to provide modular homes to cater for all people’s housing needs on a short-term basis and not just for one nationality.

Cllr Vinny McCormack welcomed the motion, saying that it gives the local authority a further option in severe pressure areas for housing.

“As a stepdown option where permanent housing is being sought, the use of modular homes could be quite effective,” he said, adding that it was another tool that should be put in place under Housing For All.

Cllr Aengus O’Rourke said the use of the word modular “might turn people off the idea” but the “modular home of today is an advanced thing all together with the advances in technology”. He added he would like to see some kind of trial scheme implemented first to see how modular homes would work in the county.

In response to the motion, the council stated: “The Housing for All Plan does not provide for the utilisation of modular housing systems by local authorities to increase the housing stock to address homelessness and social housing need. Until recently, the OPW had been responsible for the delivery of rapid-build modular homes for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection.

“Since the 15 December 2023 local authorities have been requested to assess/pre-screen expressions of interest from third parties to provide modular residential developments using Volumetric Modular system for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BoTP) Accommodation.

Expressions of interest are submitted through the online portal on the department website and following assessment by the local authority, if deemed suitable, will proceed to full assessment by DCEDIY.”