“We are sick and tired of sitting here month after month, while the biggest housing and humanitarian crisis in Europe is blatantly being ignored by the Housing Minister,” said Cllr Tomas Sean Devine, as all four 100% Redress Party councillors staged a walk-out at today’s Special Plenary Meeting on Housing in Donegal County Council.
The councillors walked out in protest at the ongoing failure of Housing Minister James Browne TD to visit Donegal and witness first-hand the devastation caused by the defective concrete crisis.
They described the Minister’s lack of action as a serious insult to the tens of thousands of families impacted.
Cllr Devine explained that the decision to leave the meeting was a collective one, aimed at demonstrating the deep frustration, anger and disappointment felt by those living through the crisis.
He added: “The people who voted for the 100% Redress Party wanted us to send a strong message to the government and that is exactly what we are trying to do. But we also need the government party councillors to start standing up for Donegal. It’s time they demanded that their elected Ministers put Donegal on the agenda.”
Despite repeated requests since he took office, Minister James Browne has yet to confirm any plans to visit the county.
Councillors pointed out that while he has made time to attend events elsewhere, including in Wexford and Dublin, Donegal remains ignored.
Supporting the councillors’ protest, Charles Ward TD said: “The meeting with the Minister has been promised for months but has come to nothing. People in Donegal deserve better than broken promises.”
The councillors also criticised the continued absence of a proper redress scheme for social housing tenants, warning that the lack of urgency is having a devastating impact on families’ mental and physical health.
“The Minister’s failure to engage is a disgrace, his silence is deafening,” said Cllr Denis McGee.
Related posts:
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
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)