Modular home sites lost amid DCB social home scheme delays - Donegal Daily

Potential sites identified by Donegal County Council for modular homes are no longer available due to delays in the defective concrete social housing scheme.Don...

Potential sites identified by Donegal County Council for modular homes are no longer available due to delays in the defective concrete social housing scheme.

Donegal County Councillors at this week's Inishowen Municipal District meeting heard how, in 2022, the council expected a scheme would be announced within months and began preparatory work.

However, a draft scheme was only approved by government in July of this year.

A Government Order to give effect to the scheme is expected in September.

Councillors at Tuesday's Inishowen MD meeting also discussed the challenges the council faces in to ensure people on its housing list are allocated homes, while also rehoming those in properties with defective concrete.

The gross need on the social housing list in Inishowen is currently 711.

Councillor Jack Murray highlighted how not only is there a vast housing list, there are also other social tenants and private homeowners living in defective concrete properties.

He said the council needs to look at a 'blended way' of ensuring they respond to the needs of all groups.

Donal Walker, Senior Executive Engineer, said all in the council's housing services council continue to working close on the 'competing demands' of the housing list.

Additionally, they are also working on the Housing Development Action Plan for 2030, in which they are keen to stress the distinct housing needs of Donegal.

"We have people who are in HAP (Housing Assistance Payments) but who are living in houses with defective concrete blocks.

"I'm highlighting how they will also be coming to us, because they'll have no choice but to move out. So they're realising that, maybe, in Donegal, they'll have to look at us as a gross need when looking at our targets."

Mr Walker said they also assessing upcoming social housing developments in order to accommodate all housing needs.

"People on the housing list are just as important. We have a duty of care to our tenants, but we also have to ensure we are taking people off the housing list."

Una Cresswell, Area Manager, Housing and Corporate, said they have worked on situations before where there was a 'mix' in need.

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"When these houses go up, we're always considering people on the list and also people in difficult situations."

Councillor Joy Beard noted how Donegal is in a housing crisis that 'can only get worse'.

"I can't name how many people have contacted me this summer, because they were being evicted and had nowhere to go.

"It can only get worse. There is a huge housing list and also there are people who are having to be moved from their home, because it is not safe."

Colr Beard said it has been rumoured that the new social housing scheme will 'mirror' the current private scheme.

She continued: "I think we have to think outside the box, as there is such a need for housing here in Donegal."

Cllr Beard also said the believes Donegal needs 'special dispensation' for housing.

"In the private scheme, there is an allowance for temporary accommodation. The big question is: 'How that will be utilised in the social scheme?

Cllr Beard continued: "It's hard to get a balance. It's a dire situation out there and then we have the DCB crisis on top of that. Everything is coming at us in Donegal."

Cllr Murray remarked how, even if the department wrote the council a 'blank cheque' to remediate homes, 'there are hundreds that need to be built and people have nowhere to go.'

Mr Walker noted that the remediation of social homes 'will not be a light switch' and will take place over an 'elongated period.'

In response to a question from Cllr Beard on sites for modular homes, he said that the council had previously identified potential sites, but these no longer available.

"We started work in 2022, with expected funds within six months, but that did not happen.

"Staff were appointed, but had to be redeployed because we couldn't have them sitting and waiting for the scheme."

Mr Walker added that, when the social homes scheme comes into effect, there will be a six to nine month preparatory period 'to allow us to do work'.

He added that the housing teams will continue to work together and with the councillors on future tenders and housing need and demand.

Councillors noted and commended the work that has been ongoing by the council on the housing list.