'Only time will tell' if Minister can deliver for Donegal homes

By Paul McElwee

A Donegal councillor has said that ‘only time will tell’ if the newly-appointed Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD is the man to deliver on the defective block crisis engulfing Donegal.

Cllr Ali Farren of the 100% Redress Party was speaking following Minister Browne’s visit to the county on Monday where he met with members of the party at County House in Lifford.

Cllr Farren said, “It’s a start. The fact that the Minister came to us within 12 weeks of his appointment is a good sign although, with the defective block crisis being Ireland’s biggest housing issue, I would have liked ministers visiting Donegal every other week.

“To his credit, Minister Browne listened to all our concerns and was a wiser man about the issues going back down the road than he was when he was coming up the road. I feel the Minister was genuine enough but did not to commit to anything concrete.

“Will he be the man to deliver or will he even be allowed to deliver? Only time will tell.”

The Minister agreed to come back to Donegal to discuss things further at a later date, but did not commit to a firm date when that was likely to happen.

Although Cllr Farren welcomed the Minister’s commitment to the scheme, he also said that the current scheme needs overhauled

He continued, “The Minister and his team took a lot of notes and listened to a lot of people so he is well aware that he have with the scheme; if you were a teacher, you’d tell the people who compiled it to go back and re-do the work.

”He has a huge portfolio in housing, looking after not just the defective blocks crisis but the wider housing crisis.

“That said, the scheme needs redone and the buck stops with him, with the responsibility to deliver a package which is correct, not just for the people of Donegal but everyone affected by this issue.

“We have to believe and hope the Minister is genuine as we have to work with the man in front of us.”

Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere