Fine Gael Councillor Eddie Hoare has welcomed Galway’s first modular hub which was opened in Westside yesterday.. The €2m facility will be managed by the Peter McVerry Trust and comprises of 15 family homes, additional offices, a meeting area and staff welfare facilities. It will provide temporary accommodation for families who are currently in emergency accommodation and awaiting allocation.
Cllr Hoare said that he hopes that a number of individuals and young families can be temporarily rehoused here while they receive an allocation.
“This is the first of its kind here in the West and should ensure a much better quality of life for those accommodated. It is disheartening when we hear of young families living in hotels and B&B. This is not an environment for any young person to grow up. These modular hub, albeit temporary, look and feel like a home.”
In 2019 Galway City Council spent over €4m on the provision of temporary emergency accommodation. Councillor Hoare laments these costs and feels these family hubs are a worthwhile investment and could be utilised elsewhere when the housing crisis abates.
“These hubs are built off-site and come prepacked and assembled. They have a life span of 60 years and could be used elsewhere when the housing crisis is curtailed. They have the potential to be used in a retirement village or something similar. Unfortunately, in the circumstances, Galway City Council has been forced to spend millions of euro on hotels and B&B rooms to house homeless families. This sum should reduce going forward and will free up funds to be invested in permanent social and affordable homes,” he concluded.
