Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has welcomed the Government’s announcement of an Action Plan for housing and a strategy to deal with the housing emergency.
He said this may deal with waiting lists for housing which ever growing and the number of homeless people nationwide is at crises levels.
But he expressed concerns and highlighted the potential shortcomings of the Housing action plan in relation to Donegal and the rural housing need of the county.
The Action Plan provides for €5.35 billion of funding between now and 2021 and ear marks the delivery of 47,000 social housing units nationwide.
He said that whilst this is welcome news in the context of the present housing emergency and homeless crises we must remain vigilant that rural counties secure there fair share of the housing budgets.
“The fear at present is housing black spots such as the cities and urban areas would be prioritised at the expense of rural areas. It is essential that the Local Authority step up to the mark and that the Government ensure counties such as Donegal obtain the necessary funding to clear the current waiting list within the county.
“Presently almost 3,000 applicants are waiting for housing provision within the county. The present Government has failed to rural proof its housing policy whereby priority be given to families or applicants to obtain housing provision within their own communities and localities.
“It is in that context that we as public representatives must step up and ensure that Donegal as a county has a policy that suits the needs of its people and its communities. Donegal County Council must now submit a housing strategy to the Department that will clearly address the housing needs of the county from 2016 to 2021.”
The Fianna Fail TD said it will be critical that this strategy clearly provides for an equable and even distribution of housing allocation countywide based on the housing need in the respective areas.
“It simply will not be sufficient to expect that we as a county will automatically obtain the necessary funding from the Department and Government based on our population , a great deal of planning and negotiations will be required in order to secure the necessary funding which Donegal County Council needs in the next 5 year period. It will also be essential that rural housing needs are prioritised through the purchasing and building of houses in rural communities, and that the larger towns within Donegal equally obtain the necessary funding to clear the ever growing urban housing lists.”
Pat the Cope said he stands by Fianna Fail’s commitment that if the housing action plan is not delivered by the present Government in a fair and effective manner that they as a party would withdraw their support of the Government.
“The present housing crises is the biggest challenge facing many Irish families at present and is the biggest challenge facing all public representatives, it is in that context that Donegal as county must ensure it obtains its fair share of the funding available. Pat the Cope committed to maintaining the pressure on the Government and the Department to deliver on the Housing action plan and that with the co operation of Donegal County Council that progress can be made on the Donegal Housing waiting lists over the years ahead.”
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