A stalemate has developed over Donegal County Council’s plans to purchase nine homes in Letterkenny – with the families living in the homes pleading for a solution.
The homes on the Ballymacool estate had been put up on the market by property company Twin Estates in November, 2023 which would have left tenants facing eviction.
The company has since been in negotiation with the council to clarify if they would be interested in purchasing some of the properties under the Tenant-in-Situ scheme.
In April last the council said it had to complete checks on the homes but “remains committed” to buying the properties.
“We would hope that Twin Estates Ltd will allow tenants to remain in situ until the process concludes,” the council said in a statement.
As part of this process, Donegal County Council instructed HD McKay Consulting Engineers to examine the properties on offer.
The Twin Estates company said it has carried out all block testing and analysis in accordance with I.S. 465, the results of which were sent to the council two months ago on the 14th of October 2024 last.
However, the company says it has not heard back from Donegal County Council since.
Last week, Twin Estates wrote to the tenants saying they must withdraw their offer to Donegal County Council because they have had no contact from the council.
In a letter seen by Donegal Daily, Mr Phil Boyle, development executive with Twin Estates, wrote to tenants saying it was with “deep regret” that he was writing to them to inform them of the latest situation especially as it occurred just before Christmas.
He wrote “It is with the deepest regret especially at this time of year, that I must now withdraw my company’s offer to sell 9 number houses at Ballymacool, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal to the Donegal County Council.
“This decision has not been taken lightly but due to a lack of communication and urgency from the council, I feel that it is the only option as my company cannot afford to allow the sale of these house to go on indefinitely.”
Donegal County Council today held a meeting to discuss the proposal to buy the homes from Twin Estates.
However, no agreement was reached with councillors being told that the council has not received all the information they require from the vendor, Twin Estates.
Reacting to the latest meeting, Mr Boyle said that this was simply not the case and that he has given the council all the information they requested.
“This is not true. I have not been communicated that message. I gave them IS465 Test results and I had my engineer answer four additional questions they asked for with regards to the results.
“They told me verbally that they had a meeting and that they would decide. That’s where we left it. I asked them for a sit down to two weeks ago and I have had nothing but out of office emails since.”
Donegal Daily has contacted Donegal County Council for an updated reaction.
