Four new social housing schemes and two new social housing developments will be officially opened later today.
The developments represents an overall investment of almost €23m in Social Housing provision in Donegal under the Rebuilding Ireland Programme.
Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy TD will turn the sod at sites in Donegal Town and Long Lane Letterkenny, while new social housing schemes will be opened in Stranorlar, Newtowncunningham, Manorcunningham, and Crievesmith Letterkenny.
Speaking ahead of the official opening the Minister said: “I am delighted to be here today in Donegal to see first hand the fine work the Council are doing in the delivery of new social homes through their own construction programme and in partnership with both private developers through the turnkey scheme and with Approved Housing Bodies.
“I will be turning the sod on two construction schemes and will also be officially opening a further four social housing schemes at various locations across the county.
“In all, there are 115 new homes being delivered which will provide high-quality homes to cater for the different housing demands arising in Donegal, they will be, without doubt, a very welcome addition to the social housing stock in Donegal.”
Tenants have moved into their new homes in Stranorlar and Newtowncunningham which are now home to 100 people while offers have been made in the last week for the new houses in Manorcunningham and Letterkenny.
Director of Housing, Corporate and Cultural Services with Donegal County Council, Joe Peoples, said the Donegal development was ‘just the beginning of Donegal County Council’s ambitious Social Housing Programme’.
“The Council’s Housing Construction Programme is projected to deliver 298 social housing units over the next two to three years representing an investment in excess of €50 million,” Peoples said.
“The following projects will be on site in 2019 on Council landbanks at Killybegs, Long Lane Letterkenny, Donegal Town, St. Johnston, Raphoe, Malin, and Buncrana.
“Additional projects are also being planned for Donegal Town, Bundoran, Buncrana, Dunfanaghy and Letterkenny.
“The Council is continuing to work to source suitable landbanks throughout the County to develop new projects in addition to those currently planned.”
Welcoming the Ministers visit to Donegal Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr. Seamus O’Domhnaill acknowledged the work being done by Donegal County Council’s Housing Directorate as part of the Councils Social Housing Programme.
“This is an extensive programme of work and I am delighted to be welcoming Minister Murphy to Donegal today to see first-hand the work being done by our Housing team here in Donegal County Council.
Under this programme, Donegal County Council is planning to build 298 social housing units representing an investment in excess of €50 million.
“In addition to this, the Council is pursuing an ambitious Turnkey Acquisition programme which has the potential to deliver a substantial number of high-quality homes in towns across the county over the next few years.
“The Council has adopted a multi-faceted approach to addressing the social housing demand in the county”
Chief Executive of Donegal County Council Seamus Neely says that the Council is committed to providing high-quality housing solutions for the people of Donegal and the housing schemes being officially opened today are a great example of the excellent standard of housing being made available for families and individuals across the county.
“We have been ambitious in our approach to addressing the housing challenges that many families and individuals have been facing in Donegal. At the heart of these homes are the tenants that occupy them and all our houses have been designed with this in mind.
“All units are highly energy efficient, with low running costs, meeting the specific needs and requirements of tenants where necessary and are delivered to high specifications and standards in line with the building regulations.
“We are committed to meeting the targets and objectives set out in Rebuilding Ireland and continue to work closely with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government as the main funder of our social housing programme.”
Chairman of the Donegal Municipal District Councillor Micheal Naughton welcomed the new development of 24 housing units and two new group homes at Drumrooske.
Cllr. Naughton said: “This is a great day for Donegal Town, to be turning the sod on a development which is very badly needed at this time, as we are all aware housing remains one of the key topics on the agenda at the minute so to see this development which will accommodate some 75 people is a positive start to the New Year.
“I would like to particularly welcome the two group homes which will have 5 individual living spaces, this scheme will cater for clients with Intellectual Disability.”
