Donal O'Regan, 3 Nov
PLANS to erect 30 modular housing units in Kilmallock for Ukrainians
fleeing the war have been shelved, the Limerick Leader has learned.
The modular homes, part of a national Rapid Build programme, were to be
located on council-owned lands at the rear of Radharc na Cille housing
estate in the town.
After the project was revealed in the Leader in January, over 1,300
people signed a petition organised by local residents entitled, “Stop
modular homes in Kilmallock - our systems are overloaded”.
The 30 two-bed semi-detached units, each accommodating a family of
four, planned for Kilmallock were to have a 60-year lifespan.
The Leader understands survey work was carried out at the proposed
location and issues were identified with underground voids, including
disused pipework.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
(DCEDIY), in collaboration with the Office of Public Works (OPW), is
rolling out the Rapid Build programme to house beneficiaries of
temporary protection fleeing the war in Ukraine.
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89 year-old Limerick nursing home resident enjoys new tandem bike
A DCEDIY spokesperson said the site in Kilmallock was assessed as part
of the programme, along with many other State-owned sites across
Ireland.
“Work is not scheduled to progress on this site currently. DCEDIY and
OPW are working with the Department of Housing and other Government
agencies to secure the most viable sites for the delivery of the Rapid
Build programme,” said the spokesperson.
Cllr PJ Carey welcomed the news that the plan for modular housing in
Kilmallock was being shelved.
“I said this was a non-runner from day one and how much money has been
wasted coming to this conclusion? I believe that no development should
go ahead without a full planning process. This emergency legislation is
the lrish Government's response to its own lack of preparedness and
dire lack of housing going back to an EU directive in 2003,” said Cllr
Carey.
The Sinn Fein councillor said the town has opened its arms to refugees
fleeing the war in Ukraine.
“Members of the Ukrainian community, who have been living in Kilmallock
since the Russian invasion, recently hosted a party to say thank you to
the people of the area for their kindness and support over the last 18
months.
“There were valid concerns including a lack of services and
infrastructure if these modular houses were erected in Kilmallock.
The proposed development would have meant a 7% increase in the
population of the town overnight and a population increase of
school-aged children of nearly 25%, a type of population increase that
typically takes over a decade," said Cllr Carey.
He said he would be very supportive of modular homes in locations with
sufficient services to cater for the additional population influx and
cited large urban areas as opposed to rural towns and villages.