Minister meets builders of Laois Ukraine modular homes on site

placeholder image — Minister Patrick O'Donovan on site

Ukraine modular home builders in Laois have met with the Minister responsible deliver the Rathdowney project and hundreds of others around Ireland for people who have fled the Russian war.

Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan travelled to the site on Thursday, November 16, of the houses which are soon due to be completed for refugees, albeit well behind schedule.

The Office of Public Works posted photos of the Minister visiting the site where he met employees of the contractors Sisks. He was given a tour of the inside of houses and the general surrounds of the temporary estate that was built on publicly owned lands without the involvement of Laois County Council.

The OPW said Minister Donovan met with the contractors to view progress on the homes. It said: "handover is envisaged in the coming weeks".

The Leinster Express / Laois Live asked if there was a statement to accompany the pictures. It said the visit was "impromptu" and no press release was issued. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Laois County Council updated councillors on the project at the end of October. It said the new Laois estate of 42 semi-detached two-bedroom prefabs are expected to house 168 war-displaced Ukrainians.

The homes will include a kitchen-dining-living area combined, a bathroom, a small bedroom and a large bedroom. The homes are said to be highly energy-efficient, durable units with a 60-year lifespan. Councils have been told that could be used as public housing when no longer needed by the Ukrainians.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O'Gorman told TDs recently that the first phase of seven sites would see the completion of 700 rapid-build homes on State-owned land around Ireland.

Each unit measures in the region of 45 square metres in area and costs approximately €145,000 to construct. Some estimates have put the cost of the houses higher at €165,000.

The OPW told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) previously that 700 modular homes project would cost some €150 m to build.