Watch: TD claims modular housing placed 'in a**shole of nowhere'

A Laois TD defended Rathdowney after a suggestion that modular housing for Ukrainian refugees was being put in “the arsehole of nowhere”. 

Wexford Independent TD Verona Murphy questioned why modular housing for Ukrainians was being placed in areas not deemed suitable for social housing.  

In response, CEO of the Housing Agency, Bob Jordan, said they were suitable because it wasn’t long term housing. 

“While lands may not have been appropriate for social and affordable housing under development plans, we have offered nine sites to provide, for instance, accommodation for Ukrainians. Forty-two of those are already in place in Rathdowney, County Laois,” he said. 

“We obviously have to bottom out whether social and affordable housing will ever be delivered on these sites, and then cascade downwards and see if we can find other sites,” Mr Jordan stated. 

Deputy Murphy said:  “If it had been doing it all along as a housing plan, I would accept it. However, it is not acceptable to say it is for one sector, refugees, and nobody else. They are generally - excuse the term - in the arsehole of nowhere, which just is not good enough.”

Her comments led to a response from Chair of the Public Accounts Committee Brian Stanley. 

“The Deputy was a little unfair to Rathdowney, I have to say,” he stated. 

“She was a little bit unfair to Rathdowney being in the AH of nowhere,” Dep Stanley continued. 

In response, Dep Murphy said, “Chair, I can assure you it is not that one I am interested in but the other nine.”

Dep Stanley mention a relation of his from Rathdowney.

“One of my relatives, whom you will know from your previous incarnation in the haulage industry because I met you with him when you were head of the organisation,” he said. 

“If I bump into him over the Christmas period, I am going have to explain myself to him,” he added.