Families flee Moville council housing estate over condition of houses

Some families at a council housing estate in Moville have had to move out due to the poor condition of the properties.

Residents in the Ard na Guala Duibhe estate had to flee recently and seek alternative accommodation.

Tenants have told of how they were unable to open windows as they feared falling concrete.

Issues with dampness and mould, which those affected believe is due to the presence of defective concrete blocks, beset residents who were left with no alternative but to pack their bags.

One resident told Donegal Live: “You can see where they took the samples from the holes in the wall. My blocks were so weak that they left a hole in the sitting room and just put a blob of plaster on it and didn’t sand it down or anything.

“Our bathroom is black with mould and damp. Our blinds upstairs and the bedroom ceilings are all black mould with damp. Our heating is used, it’s on everyday. From October to April I can guarantee you now I’ll be going to the doctor once a week with the kids from inhalers and antibiotics and it’s all coming back to the same thing, the damp.”

Councillor Martin Farren raised the issue with the council.

“The council themselves know these houses are in very poor condition and it needs to be addressed and addressed very shortly,” commented Councillor Farren.

“From the evidence we have seen, one would be of the opinion that these houses have mica.

“These people deserve to be living in good conditions, they’re paying their rates every week to the local authority and they deserve better than this,” continued the Labour Party councillor.

Cllr Farren is urging the council to carry out the work before the winter months start as the weather will get worse which might lead to more rain and stronger winds. 

He said: “This is something that I’ve brought up in the past as well and I’d like Donegal County Council to exert more pressure on the department that these types of work are carried out as quickly as possible.”

Donegal County Council said in response: “In the anticipation of a scheme being announced for the remediation of social homes that are damaged by defective concrete blocks, the council are testing council owned social homes in the County. 

“Some social homes in Ard Na Guala Duibhe, Moville have been cored and tested and the results are currently being assessed with a view to recommending the most appropriate remediation option. 

“As soon as the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage announce a scheme for the remediation of social homes in Donegal, the Council intends to commence the remediation work as soon as possible but this is dependent on the availability of alternative accommodation.”

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage said in a response issued to Donegal Live: “The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations commenced on 29 June 2023.

“The Act also provides for the Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Social Homes Scheme. This is a scheme for the purpose of enabling a designated local authority or an Approved Housing Body (AHB) with dwellings located in a designated local authority area to remedy damage caused to dwellings, owned by the local authority/AHB, by the use of defective concrete blocks in their construction.

“Section 36 of the Act provides that social homes will receive the same remediation options as those covered under the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme for private housing, and the same grant cap, grant rates and damage threshold requirements, along with access to ancillary grants.

“A draft Scheme has been prepared by the Department. In terms of content, it is based on the current Enhanced Scheme with appropriate amendments where necessary to reflect the slightly different nature of social housing. The fundamental terms and conditions regarding eligibility and grant rates are the same as the private scheme. This is in keeping with the provisions of the Act.

“The draft DCB Social Homes Scheme constitutes the framework for the application of the provisions contained in the Act. It is informed by feedback the Department has received from The Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) regarding AHB units where there are concerns about the impact of defective concrete blocks. My Department has also had extensive engagement with the four designated counties under the Act - Donegal, Mayo, Limerick and Clare - regarding their affected housing stock. 

“The department expects to be in a position to finalise the scheme shortly.”