Schools running programmes to deal with impact of defective concrete crisis

Four pilot programmes have been rolled out in primary and secondary schools across Inishowen to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people and children whose homes are impacted by defective concrete blocks. 

St Francis’ NS in Clonmany, Scoil Eoghain in Moville, Carndonagh Community School and Scoil Mhuire in Buncrana were chosen to host the pilot programmes. 

The pilot programmes involve resilience training, coping mechanisms, CBT exercises and teaching young people how to deal with their big emotions. Parents were also included as part of some of the programmes for younger children. 

Denise McCool, team lead with Inishowen Development Partnership( IDP), who facilitates the interagency subgroup, said the pilots came about following a survey by the IFAN [Inishowen Family Action Network] DCB [defective concrete block] sub-group.

The survey showed that 72% of respondents said the DCB crisis was having a moderate to severe impact on their children.

“Parents who responded to the survey requested training on positive coping strategies, building resilience and mindfulness techniques for their children,” explained Denise.

“They stated that they would like to see the delivery of these types of programmes in the school to make it more accessible for a large cohort.”

Following this, the four programmes were delivered in collaboration with Lifeline, Carndonagh and Moville Family Resource Centre, and in consultation with the two school completion programmes. 

“We were delighted to receive funding for the pilot projects from Inishowen Co-Op, who want to support and make a difference in the Inishowen community” added Denise. 

Chairman of Inishowen Co-Op John Ruddy said they were happy to be able to collaborate with the IFAN DCB Sub Group to deliver the programmes to local schools. 

“From what the IDP and the schools have heard already these programmes have had a strong positive impact on the young people they were delivered to, and we were delighted to be able to support them in this training,” said John.

Similarly, GM of Inishowen Co-Op Gareth Whitmore said everyone at the Co-Op is all too aware of the DCB crisis within the community and they will continue to provide support to the community in whatever way they can. 

He praised the facilitators of the programme who ‘went above and beyond’ to deliver these programmes in the schools.

“It has been heartening to see that they had such a positive impact in the schools,” added Gareth. 

Denise explained that as this has been a pilot phase their job now in the IFAN DCB Sub Group is to evaluate and measure the impact before providing future recommendations and seeking out additional funding. However, one school was so impressed by the training itself that they supported further roll out of the programme themselves.

William Doherty principal of St Francis’ NS, Clonmany, said the Strive programme, which was delivered by facilitator Colleen Kearney in the school, provided such encouraging results for many of the children and taught them key coping strategies that they decided to continue the programme and expanded it to other children.

“The support provided by Inishowen Co-op in conjunction with Inishowen Development Partnership and Denise McCool has been invaluable to the children of St Francis National School,” Mr  Doherty said. 

“It has been so beneficial that our Board of Management have seen fit to continue the programme into 3rd and 4th Class. In my opinion early intervention is key in supporting our young people they are our future at the end of the day.

“At a time when children have to face so many social challenges including recovery from the fallout from Covid, to separation, loss and bereavement and to top it all off dealing with the plethora of issues that are arising from the mine field that is defective concrete blocks: Colleen Kearney has been a breath of fresh air and we are delighted that she will continue the programme at our school,” added William.

Modular home 'bail out' to Donegal urged as Oireachtas hears defective home update

As the Oireachtas Housing Committee was told that only 43 homes in Donegal affected by defective blocks have been fully remediated under a government scheme, a Donegal County Councillor says it is time a 'bail out' was offered in the form of modular homes

Principal of Carndonagh Community School John McGuiness supported the call for more funding, adding that he believes programmes such as this will only become more necessary as time moves on and more teenagers’ homes are being demolished. 

“This is only the tip of the iceberg,” he said.  “As more families progress in the scheme and children are forced to move to temporary accommodation the issues around anxiety and stress will really start to surface. Their safe spaces, their study spaces, their quiet areas, will be demolished and that will be really hard for young people to process. 

“There will be an even greater need for programmes such as this one in the future,” he added.  

To find out more about the supports available and the work of the IFAN DCB subgroup contact Denise or Rachel at IDP. The DCB Facilitator, Michelle Coyle, can be contacted through IDP at 0749362218.