Donegal County Councillors will gather this Friday for a special meeting on the defective concrete blocks crisis.
The meeting, announced today, will focus on finding immediate supports for families in the worst-affected homes.
Donegal County Council is seeking to get urgent alternative accommodation for the affected homeowners.
The council said it is also seeking an update from the Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien.
Earlier this month a large protest was held in Lifford by frustrated homeowners demanding action from the council and government on the various delays of the scheme. Protesters planned a follow-up occupation of the Carndonagh services centre last week, which was called off due to the offices being closed to the public.
A delegation from Donegal County Council met with the Minister last Wednesday to discuss the enhanced scheme, temporary modular housing and an emergency fund to deal with a number of urgent cases. The meeting was described as ‘constructive’.
Following this, the government announced on Friday that up to 20 families whose homes are badly damaged by defective mica blocks would receive grants of €15,000 as well as €5,000 storage costs.
As of this week, full repair works have been completed on 22 homes in Donegal under the original defective concrete blocks grant scheme. Work has started on 47 homes.
There are 1,076 applications at stage one, of which 436 have been approved and 639 awaiting further information or being assessed.
There are 118 applications at stage 2, of which 73 are approved.
