Criticism levelled at Housing report updates not been available before special Council meeting

Today's special plenary meeting of Donegal County Council on housing was adjourned for half an hour after criticism of the furnishing of reports from previous questions and queries that were circulated to members, had only occurred on the morning of the meeting.

At the start of the meeting, Cathaoirleach Cllr Martin Harley had indicated that responses to questions raised previously at a special plenary housing meeting were available in an efolder to councillors

Cllr Ciaran Brogan (FF) asked when did the responses come in and he was told the morning of the meeting.

Commenting that “it was a brave while since we met,” Cllr Brogan added, “we are expected to start again today.”

"I think that is poor enough form to be honest with you, Cathaoirleach that we are only getting them responses this morning.

“We probably need time to look at the responses because we need to try and address some of the issues that were raised the last day.”

The councillor said:

"I just want it recorded here Cathaoirleach, that I think it is very poor form that the responses only came through to us this morning and we have talked now for years about how we get the message to the elected members but just to arrive in this morning.

“To be honest, I don’t think that is by accident and I think that they should have been given to us a few days back to give us time to digest and reflect on the answers given.”

After a brief conversation, it was suggested that the answers be put in a special plenary meeting folder available to the councillors, some 48 hours in advance of the meeting.

(Above: Cllr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbaig)

He told the meeting that he had difficulty reading and this is a challenge for him. The councillor has no idea what is in the report as a result of this.

Referring to the morning's reports, he highlighted that half an hour isn't enough for him to digest what was in them.