Heywood Road modular homes
Deputy McGrath complains about poor communication and secrecy around modular homes for asylum seekers in Clonmel. The Taoiseach says the language used worries him and stresses the need to avoid pitting groups against each other while explaining broader housing flows for Ukrainian arrivals.
Last February, public representatives in Clonmel, including the mayor and Councillor Niall Dennehy, were told that 62 modular homes for asylum seekers were being considered for construction on Heywood Road. We did not hear a dickybird since then. I have been trying through parliamentary questions and freedom of information, FOI, requests to get information but I could not get it. Last Friday, I got responses back to an FOI request and a parliamentary question. At 6.30 p.m. on Friday evening, we got an email from the director of services stating that 82 modular homes would be located on Heywood Road. This sticks in people's craws because a lot of investigative work has been carried out, including on topography, drainage and everything else. We had 400 people presenting as homeless in Tipperary last year. Why can we not make these efforts to house our own people? According to RTÉ's recent programme, this type of accommodation could cost up to €33 million, or €407,000 per unit. This is outrageous money. We are asking for €2.5 million to keep alive the N24 project from Cahir to Waterford. This morning, we heard from Parkinson's Ireland and cardiovascular and disability groups, all of which are looking for small amounts of money. A much greater amount is being spent on modular homes for Ukrainian refugees, as well as millions of euro on accommodating pets. Where is it going to stop?
Comment on this
That language worries me in regard to pitting one group of people in society against another.
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The Deputy's language worries me, not the issue. We will deal with the issues as a Government and collectively in the Oireachtas. Going back to Deputy Kenny's point, the language of division does not offer healthy debate. That is my opinion.
In regard to accommodation for Ukrainian people, it might be useful for the House to know the following. Every day, some 15 Ukrainian people come to Ireland seeking accommodation. Every day in Ireland, approximately 45 Ukrainian people leave State accommodation. There are around 175 fewer Ukrainian people each week in State accommodation. Far from the narrative that the situation is worsening in regard to accommodation for Ukrainian people, it is actually very significantly improving. On the Deputy's specific issues, I will ask the line Ministers to reply.