Housing Crisis: Donegal County Council will meet people to discuss their needs

Staff from Donegal County Council’s Housing Section are encouraging people facing eviction or who feel they can’t afford a home to come forward.

Cllr Niamh Kennedy (Ind) told the March meeting of the Municipal District (MD) of Donegal that she was being contacted by people who were deeply worried. But often, they didn’t realise they were eligible to go on the housing list.

The councillor said she was inundated with calls from people who simply could not afford a house. 

She also asked for clarification on the Affordable Housing Survey which is currently on Donegal County Council’s website and is being circulated on social media.

Area Manager of the MD, Pauric Sheerin has responsibility for housing. 

He said: “In relation to comments about people coming forward that should be on the housing list, there is no issue for us with sending those people forward. 

“We can do a pre-application check of their circumstances first so if someone isn’t going to be eligible we try to identify that  at that as that full application process is very detailed.”

Mr Sheerin said the income check was no longer based on the most recent P60, but rather on the 52 weeks previous to the application.

“The income check is a very complex process,” he said. 

“And income is one of the areas where unfortunately we have absolutely no discretion. We have had cases where the margin is very small but unfortunately we have no discretion.

“But we are happy to sit with people and see if they are eligible or not.”

Regarding the Affordable Housing Survey, Mr Sheerin explained that the government’s Affordable Housing Scheme was initially only offered in cities, and Donegal was not included.

“They then contacted other counties to gauge need,” he said. “In order to get approval for an affordable housing scheme we had to run a survey to establish need so that is what this is.

Mr Sheerin explained that the scheme would only be suitable for certain households.

“The affordable housing scheme is to allow the purchase of a house in stages,” he said. “It is not that you are getting a cheaper house.

“It will suit some middle income families and not suit others.”

He and Cllr Kennedy encouraged everyone in need of housing to fill out the survey in order to establish a true picture of the need for the scheme in Donegal.