Modular homes project delayed

It could be October or November before Ukrainian families move into new, rapid-build modular homes in Tullamore after “issues" arose on-site, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has indicated.

While the department didn't go into specifics after queries from the Offaly Independent, it conceded issues had resulted in “further works” in Clonminch and could “result in a slightly delayed finishing date" as the Office of Public Works (OPW) works towards finalising the site.

Pressed on what issues arose there, the department said, in a further statement: “OPW/Department of CEDIY has engaged with local residents on all sites. Where residents have requested specific action on site this has been agreed to where possible. Usually this relates to boundary issues or the placement of key services on site.”

“It is in no way the fault of residents that this (project) is delayed,” Cllr Tony McCormack responded to the department comments on Thursday, saying that in any other development the department and the OPW would not be allowed to do what they are doing on this site.

He claimed that Gardaí were called to Clonminch this week after residents complained that work was going on through the night, something that would not permitted in other building projects.

While local residents are fully supportive of Ukrainian refugees coming to live there and being looked after, the Fianna Fáil councillor branded the approach by the department and the OPW as an “absolute disgrace” and “shoddy” from the start, with the residents kept in the dark about the project until diggers went on-site, and it took intervention by local TD Barry Cowen at Ministerial level for them to engage with locals at all, he said.

“All residents required there was a wall to protect their properties and give privacy to those living in the modular homes,” he added, and for the department to insinuate the residents are behind the delays is “disgraceful”.

Construction work is continuing on the site in Clonminch which was offered to the department earlier this year by the OPW as a potentially suitable site for over 60 units for Ukrainian families and some 250 people, with each unit housing four people from the war-torn country.

Rather than the August or the end of September completion previously mentioned, the department now said it is working towards original September timeframe, but conceded it could be October or November before the site is complete.

Cllr McCormack maintained that councillors were fed “a load of waffle” when they were briefed on the project and then they “hung us out to dry” by not communicating with the residents who have bent over backwards to accommodate the project.

Whilst the project is exempt from planning regulations, Cllr McCormack said the department and OPW were supposed to work with Offaly County Council on the development, and he believes there is no way the local authority would have given this proposal approval if it had come before them like usual planning applications.

Problems with the early boundary treatments, design and the the chain link fencing originally planned were not up to standard and made the site look like a prison.

While he accepted that the project has to be delivered in a quick manner, Cllr McCormack said the 12-week timeframe was ambitious and the agencies have to be cognisant of the residents who have lived there for 20 or 30 years and to communicate and work with them as would normally happen in housing projects.

The homes, to be located just off the Portlaoise Road close to Clonminch Lane, are part of a Government-approved modular home project which would see 700 homes built and completed throughout the country. Each unit manufactured off-site is believed to have an average cost of €145,000, and include a kitchen-dining-living area, a bathroom, a small bedroom and a large bedroom.

Asked if the homes have been allocated as of yet, the department stated they are working to complete the allocation and priority will be given to families of four living in emergency accommodation close to Tullamore. If this does not result in full allocation, other families close to the site will be identified.

In nearby Mullingar, the first 20 of the 50 modular homes being installed at Columb Barracks to house families fleeing Ukraine will be completed within the next two weeks.

The modular homes projects are being managed by the OPW on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, who are the approving authority for the programme.

The OPW is responsible for site preparation and the acquisition and installation of the homes onto the sites, with the approving authority, the department, maintaining the homes which have a lifespan of 60 years and can be moved to an alternative site at a later stage.

All sites for rapid build homes will have roads, footpaths, street lighting and community facilities, including green spaces.