New homes will bring Christmas cheer in Finn Valley

By Chris Ashmore

CHRIS Rea’s ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ song could take on a whole new meaning for some houselands in the Finn Valley next month as they move into their new accommodation.

Works are nearly completed on two Donegal County Council backed housing developments in Ballybofey and Lifford.

Twenty nine new homes are expected to be handed over to their new tenants at Gallows Lane in Lifford this month.

And 19 new properties will be allocated at Trusk Road in Ballybofey where the final touches are being applied.

Meanwhile, considerable inroads are being made into the social housing waiting list in the Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District Council area.

Sixty new houses are to be built at Lifford Common while 30 more are planned for Cois Abhainn in St. Johnston.

In both cases, water connection applications have been lodged with Uisce Éireann.

There are also plans for eight new homes on the site of the former fire station in Stranorlar.

In Raphoe, construction work is continuing on 11 more properties at Meadow Hill.

The combined total of all these developments is 157 units.

On top of this, a “turnkey development” of 24 houses for the council in Convoy is progressing as is a 14 unit development on the Donegal Road in Ballybofey.

Local councillors have also been informed that the Habinteg Housing Association has begun works on the building of a mixture of two, three four and five bed homes at Raphoe Road in Castlefinn.

The Cathaoirleach of Lifford-Stranorlar MD, Cllr. Patrick McGowan told the November meeting that they were “turning the corner on social housing” and pointed out that the local authority is actively seeking land for further developments.

Expressing delight at the number of new houses coming on stream, he paid tribute to all involved for the “hard work” which he said was now paying off.

“Everyone deserves a clap on the back. The public will see the benefit, seeing is believing,” he declared.

Cllr.Martin Harley made the point that with tenants moving into the new houses this will, in turn, free up properties in the private rental sector.

“It’s a win, win situation,” he added.

However, Cllr Dakota Nic Mheanman felt that Gaeltacht areas – namely Cloughan – were being forgotten about when it came to social housing.

She acknowledged that the people who are getting social housing in the Finn Valley are leaving rented accommodation but pointed out unless something is done to tackle the high cost of rents it is not going to make any difference.

“I am in a mobile home and when I woke up this morning it was freezing,” she said, adding that she knew of a four bed house for rent but it was €950 a month.

She also highlighted that there is a tax-free recognition payment of €800 per month available to anybody offering accommodation to those fleeing Ukraine.

She knew of two houses in one estate that were up for rent and both went to Ukrainians.

“We cannot compete with that,” she said, adding that such high rents are not sustainable.

Responding, Cllr. McGowan said that “a lot has been done” but acknowledged there is “a lot more to do”.

Colin McNulty, Area Manager, Housing & Corporate Services, said that they can look at Gaeltacht areas and the council can buy single houses too but “there is very little up for sale”.

He stressed also that the council would “be open to any approaches to develop in Gaeltacht areas.”

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