Inishowen councillors are seeking an update on the enhanced defective concrete block scheme as more homeowners join the original scheme.
Almost 100 new applications have been made to Stage 1 of the original scheme in the past month. Of the 1,219 applications at stage one, 623 of those have been approved. A further 595 applications are awaiting further information or are being assessed.
140 applications are now at Stage 2 – the grant approval stage.
Donegal County Council reports that 33 remediations have been completed in the county, valued at €4,432,214.85.
There are 220 homes at Stage 3, which is the Payment stage in which remediation is in progress or completed.
Speaking at today’s meeting of the Inishowen Municipal District, Cllr Albert Doherty called for a workshop to be arranged to update councillors on the progress of the enhanced scheme.
The scheme which was announced by Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien in November 2021 is expected to be in place by the end of April, Senator Niall Blaney told RTE Radio 1 last week.
Speaking today, Cllr Doherty praised council staff for their work but said that public representatives are being pressed for answers on the roadmap ahead for the enhanced scheme.
He highlighted the 595 applicants at the “further information” phase of stage 1 and said that 49% of those involved in the process still don’t know when, where or how they are going.
In terms of the council’s housing supply, Cllr Doherty said that many social housing tenants are seeing houses in their estates getting fixed and are wondering when will they fall into the category to benefit from works. He said that questions are also continuing to be raised over alternative accommodation.
The executive agreed to look into arranging a workshop on the matter.
