By Chris Ashmore
DONEGAL may finally be turning the corner in relation to its social housing crisis as record numbers of new homes are on the way.
Figures released this week show there are currently 1,074 new social housing units in the pipeline for the county.
Currently, 16 major projects have planning approved, seven of which have Uisce Éireann approval (for vital water connections) and nine are awaiting approval from the national water utility. In total, these projects will yield 529 new homes.
Meanwhile, a further nine projects are awaiting planning permission, and will lead to up to 213 new properties while there are also six projects at a pre-planning stage that could yield up to 332 more social housing units.
The figures were circulated to members of Donegal County Council yesterday at a special meeting in Lifford of the local authority where an update was given on social housing projects. It also emerged that 403 new social homes have now been completed under the 2022-2025 housing plan.
Significantly, there are now 466 new units currently under construction, with the biggest developments being 60 units in Lifford, 54 in Buncrana, 43 in Dungloe, 42 in Bundoran, and 30 in Oran Hill, Letterkenny and St Johnston. There are also 34 housing association homes being built in Castlefin, 30 in Convoy and 22 in Killylastin, Letterkenny.
Significantly, the figures do not include private housing developments.
Commenting on the figures, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Paul Canning, said: “This is a good news story” and he praised the work of all the officials involved.
Councillors have given a broad welcome to the update. Nevertheless, a number of key areas of concern were raised.
Cllr Joy Beard said it was “deeply disappointing” to learn this week – following a meeting in Dublin – that the long-promised social housing remediation scheme is still some time off from being finalised.
She stressed that there are still people living in terrible conditions in many social houses with defective concrete blocks.
“I dread the day when we will have a tragedy in one of those homes. We just cannot continue (as we are), we have got to do something. We will have it on our shoulders if a tragedy happens and we do not do anything,” she warned.
The biggest project to be developed in the coming year will be the start of works on 172 social houses in the Ballymacool area of Letterkenny. Although pleased to see the progression of the project, Cllr Gerry McMonagle pointed out the need to “get the skates on” in relation to the upgrading of the roads infrastructure in the town and, in particular, to speeden up the moves for a Southern Relief Road and also another bridge over the River Swilly.
He also made the point – as did a number of other councillors – that while there will be new social houses coming on stream, many of those living in homes with defective concrete blocks will have to move into the new social houses.
