DONEGAL County Council is expecting facilitators for new support clinics for mica homeowners to be approved by the Department of Housing shortly.
The serious need for the clinics or hubs in each of the municipal districts affected by the defective blocks scandal was again raised by Cllr Gary Doherty at last week’s Council meeting.
Cllr Doherty said although there was a unanimous agreement to set up these hubs they have yet to be established. He said people who have mica that are trying to access the redress scheme are “crying out” for this facility to be up and running.
“At its core it is a very simple ask that the Council would put in place the support services that people who are trying to access the scheme to save their family homes desperately need. They desperately need to be able to drop in to a clinic to get advice on how to access the scheme, find out what they need to do and where they need to go from here,” he said.
“I would ask why we can have planning clinics where we have members of staff who make themselves available to the general public whether that is via a phone consultation or dropping into a physical meeting. Why can that not be extended to people who are trying to access the defective blocks redress scheme.”
Cllr Doherty said it is a multi-million Euro scheme and that people are making life changing decisions.
He said it is essential that there is an open line of communications with those administering the scheme within the local authority.
“We are aware of the difficulties in the scheme but not withstanding those there are no reasons I can see for the delaying of getting in place these clinics,” he added.
Director of Housing, Corporate & Cultural Services, Mr Patsy Lafferty said the council made an application in July to the Department of Housing on behalf of Donegal Local Development Company (DLDC) and Inishowen Development Partnership (IDP) for approval and funding for facilitators.
These would support affected homeowners.
The posts would be recruited and appointed by IDP and DLDC respectively.
The Department has indicated that it was favourably disposed to the application, subject to a number of queries being addressed and further information provided, he said.
“The Council has now received details of the queries and further information to be provided. It is anticipated that the posts will be approved by the Department once the further information is responded to, and this will be addressed shortly,” said Mr Lafferty.
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