EXTRA supports are being made available at libraries in Donegal to help mica homeowners with their applications for the redress scheme.
The difficulties many applicants are experiencing filling out their paperwork was raised by Cllr Martin McDermott at the monthly meeting of the Council. He was told that in addition to the staff already in place that provide one-to-one guidance for applicants there is now facilities at local libraries including scanning and uploading facilities.
Cllr McDermott praised the work of the Council staff dealing with the mica applications but said there is a lot of frustration out there about how long applications are taking to be assessed.
Although the Council made a commitment that all applications will be dealt with in four to eight weeks applicants are now waiting up to 20 weeks for stage two applications.
“I don’t think that it is acceptable. Some of these people have had to move out of their homes because they can’t live in them and they are waiting up to 20 weeks on an application process,” said Cllr McDermott.
“There is a situation out there where a lot of vulnerable people can’t get their head around how the application process works. I think that as a local authority it is important and it is going to be important going forward for the next 10 or 15 years that we have someone locally within the Municipal District offices to deal with people who are struggling with their application process. Even when the new scheme comes into fruition there is still going to be a situation where people will need help.
“The stress levels of people at the moment are extremely high and I think we as a council need to be a bit more proactive.”
Acting Director of Housing, Mr Patsy Lafferty said they are still waiting on details of the new enhanced redress scheme from government and said they anticipate this will result in a more streamlined process for applicants.
He outlined that scanning facilities for mica applicants are available at the Central library in Letterkenny, Carndonagh, Buncrana, Twin Towns and Bundoran Community libraries, Leabharlann Phobail Ghaoth Dobhair and Leabharlann Phobail na Rosann.
Cllr McDermott acknowledged the support at the libraries but said staff available must have the expertise and knowledge about the scheme.
“People that are going to be there need to know exactly what’s involved in the scheme because it is very very difficult, cumbersome and built around red tape,” he said.
“We are going to be in a position over the next number of months where people are going to be anxious and waiting for this new process to happen. I think it is important we are there for people.”
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