An artists’s impression of what the buildings will look like

The locations of the planned modular homes in Rathangan and Newbridge

A LOCAL TD has posted almost 600 letters to the residents of LHD (Lakeside, Highfield, Dara Park) in Newbridge to help clarify the imposition of 30 modular houses for Ukranian refugees proposed in their neighbourhood.

Another 30 such homes will also be erected at Beechgrove in Rathangan.

“Patricia [Ryan] decided to write to residents because the Government has refused to consult with them, and there is a lot of anger because of the arrogance of the Government,” said Cllr Noel Connolly, parliamentary assistant to Deputy Ryan.

“We’ve had nearly 100 contacts back, and while most are in favour of housing the refugees, they are also critical of the lack of consultation, encroachment on their green spaces, and the potential for anti-social behaviour,” said Cllr Connolly.

“The location in Newbridge is an old basketball court known locally as ‘The Tar’ where young people tend to congregate, and there was a stolen car burnt out there in the last few weeks,” he said.

“I have held a meeting with the Minister responsible for the decision, Roderick O’Gorman, and have expressed to him the unsuitability of the sites,” said Deputy Ryan.

“I have asked for consultation with the local community, but the Department seems to think an advertisement in a newspaper is sufficient,” she said.

These modular homes will be in at least 15 different locations throughout the country, six of which are already known,” she said.

“Work should start in September and be finished by November,” she predicted

“We support the Government’s efforts to provide emergency accommodation to Ukrainian families fleeing the war, and  support the use of high-quality modular homes both for long term social housing  and for short term emergency accommodation for refugees whether from Ukraine and other countries, [but] the proposed sites are far from ideal,” she said.

“These are areas with a very significant social housing need, where levels of homelessness are rising, and other public services including GPs and school places are under serious pressure,” Deputy Ryan pointed out.

“If Government is to proceed with the proposed modular development on these sites it must be accompanied by  adequate GP services and adequate school places,” she said.

“The Department of Housing must now accelerate its social housing provision, and in areas without emergency accommodation provide additional emergency accommodation to meet the growing homelessness crisis,” said Deputy Ryan.

“The community in County Kildare are generous and want to play their part, but they have been let down by Government in the past, and that cannot be allowed to happen again,” she said.

“We have no objection to the use of other forms of emergency accommodation including modular homes or refurbished large vacant buildings that can be converted into multifamily emergency accommodation, [but] this must be done alongside increased efforts to address the housing and homeless crisis – particularly in areas hosting large numbers of refugees,” she said.

“All of the proposed areas throughout the country experience high levels of social and economic deprivation, and the  under provision of public services and lack of housing,” said Deputy Ryan. “There is a need for a community dividend for these areas, and there is a concern that growing levels of homelessness and pending evictions in the areas where the modular units are being proposed could generate conflict,” she predicted.

The OPW has proposed 500 such homes be erected before the end of 2023, to house an estimated 2,000 more Ukrainians.

Each house will be built to achieve an A2 BER rating, each with its own door access, and living space of 45sqm (484 sqft).

The plan calls for the re-use onsite excavation material as a buffer mounding, similar to the OPW’s approach at the National Forensics Lab in Backweston (see pic).