Letterkenny-based County Councillor Gerry McMonagle is calling for an All Party delegation from Donegal to meet with Minister Simon Coveney to discuss yesterday’s allocation for Housing Adaptation Grants.
Cllr McMonagle described the grants allocated to Donegal as ‘derisory.’
More than €60M was allocated around the country but Donegal received an allocation of €788,000
He said “These Grants are very important for the many older people and those with disabilities who avail of these grants and which will provide older people and people with a disability, with the opportunity to continue independent living in their own homes for as long as possible, with the comfort and dignity that they deserve.
“Unfortunately, Donegal’s allocation will not meet the growing demand for this type of help from our growing ageing population and when you compare it to other similar size counties like Kerry and Mayo who have received as much as four times the allocation of Donegal it clear to see we are once again the forgotten county.”
Mayor-elect McMonagle raised the Ministers allocation yesterday at the County Council meeting requesting clarification as how these allocations are made and were they dependent on what we as a Council invest ourselves into Housing Adaptation Grants.
“I was informed by our CEO that that’s not the case. When I informed the meeting of the derisory allocation we got compared to other counties, councillors and officials were clearly surprised and annoyed that once again we had drawn the short straw when it comes to Government Funding Allocations.
“I have this morning wrote to the CEO of Donegal County Council Mr Seamus Neely and the Mayor to ask them to seek clarification from the Department as to how they measured Donegals need when making this derisory allocation. I have also asked the Mayor to consider an All Party delegation to seek a meeting with the Minister to discuss his allocation and to seek more money for Donegal.”
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