Defective Concrete Block tests are being arranged as Donegal County Council progresses with efforts to house tenants facing eviction at The Forest, Ballymacool.
Nineteen families were served eviction notices last October.
Since then, Donegal County Council housing staff have been in contact with residents to determine their needs and eligibility for social housing support.
Eight families were approved for social housing support and the ‘Tenant in Situ Scheme’ is being explored, where the Housing Agency will buy the homes and continue to rent these properties to the tenants who are living there.
The next step is testing for defective concrete blocks as part of the Council’s Acquisition Policy.
In an update provided to Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh this week, the council said they are liaising with the landlord, Twin Estates Ltd, to finalise the testing arrangements.
Cllr Kavanagh said it’s important that tenants are kept fully informed on the steps being taken.
“The council is trying to do the right thing. It’s not the council that is selling the houses, and I respect the owners have the right to do that,” he told this week’s meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District.
“I won’t say the tenants are misinformed, but I don’t think they are being fully informed as to what is happening.
“In some cases, I think there is a language barrier as well,” Cllr Kavanagh added.
Cllr Gerry McMonagle said it is important that testing is carried out as soon as possible to allow talks and negotiations to continue.
