Around 120 people a month attending Inishowen defective block clinics 

The number of people seeking assistance with the defective concrete block scheme has rapidly increased since the beginning of the year, new figures show.

Inishowen Development Partnership (IDP) says that around 120 people a month are receiving assistance from Inishowen defective concrete block facilitator Michelle Coyle, since she joined the company a little more than 12 months ago.

In that time, hundreds of families and individuals with defective concrete blocks have received assistance as they navigate their way through the DCB redress scheme.

A similar role was created through Donegal Local Development Company [DLDC] with Gerri Moran becoming the DCB facilitator for the rest of the county.

IDP team lead Denise McCool praised the work of both DCB facilitators who “hit the ground running” at the end of February 2023.

“Given the scale of demand in the county, and the ongoing challenges for homeowners within the scheme, we know that two facilitators to cover all of Donegal is not enough, but

in saying that, both Michelle and Gerri have done a phenomenal job in the last 12 months,” Denise said.

“The number of people using the DCB service through IDP is rising every month since the enhanced DCB grant scheme was introduced and the high standard of service provided by Michelle in this role is reflected in the feedback we are getting from the local community.”

One Carndonagh-based couple, who attended one of the DCB clinics in the town, stated that service has been “invaluable to them”.

“Michelle has been invaluable to defective block homeowners, her knowledge, support and empathy have meant so much to us going through this process,” the couple said.

The DCB Facilitator holds a clinic all day on a Monday in the IDP office in Buncrana and all day on a Wednesday in the IDP office in Carndonagh. She also offers phone appointments and can provide assistance via email.

“Typically I see around eight people a day in Buncrana and Carndonagh with each clinic,” Michelle said.

“People come to see me usually to get initial advice about the scheme, how best to get on the scheme and what they might be entitled to. I give them an overview of the new enhanced scheme and provide them with assistance on the documents they will need before applying for the scheme.

“There is no doubt that the enhanced scheme is not perfect and there has been, and continues to be, a lot of challenges for homeowners, but people are starting to see light at the end of a tunnel.

“This scheme is definitely moving quicker than the older 90/10 scheme and a lot of families are finally starting to rebuild their homes.”

‘Powerful message’ sent as 1,200 people attend defective blocks meeting

Local and national politicians had been invited to the meeting in Buncrana to give their views on the People’s Document

Meanwhile, in addition to her weekly clinics, the DCB facilitator will also be attending Inishowen’s Co-Op’s Home Event in the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana on Saturday, April 13. Michelle will provide a step-by-step presentation for homeowners, with a separate one for self-builds, on the new defective concrete block redress scheme. She will be joined on the day by experienced architects Shane Doherty and John McCay, who have a wealth of experience with DCB properties.

General manager of Inishowen Co-Op Gareth Whitmore said the co-op is delighted to be collaborating with IDP once again and hope that the Home Event will provide much-needed impact and support to DCB homeowners in the peninsula.