Council takes charge of more housing estates in Donegal

Donegal County Council has begun the process of taking a further 13 private housing estates into public charge.

The move, usually desired by residents and management companies who are currently responsible for maintenance of the estate’s infrastructure and common areas, will see internal roads within each of the housing estates formally declared public.

The 13 estates are located across the county, from Buncrana in the north to Ballyshannon in the south, and range from small states such as Umlagh in Carrigart, which has four homes, to larger estates like Forest Park in Killygordon which has almost 50 homes.

In all, there are approximately 300 homes in the 13 estates the council intends to take charge of.

Read more: Council took-in-charge 12 estates last October

The taking-in-charge process ensures that key infrastructure - such as roads, footpaths, storm drains and public lighting - meets Council standards before being maintained as public assets. Once completed, residents will no longer be reliant on developers or management companies for essential services like road repairs or street lighting maintenance.

As part of the process, Donegal County Council has outlined its intention to create public rights of way over the roads serving the house estates. This legal process is necessary before the Council can assume responsibility for estate roads, lighting, and other shared infrastructure.

The full list of housing estates to be taken in charge is as follows:

Sliabh Dromond, Knocknamona, Letterkenny; Fairgreen Park, Glencar Irish, Letterkenny; The Courtyard, Ballymacarry, Buncrana; Cill Greine, Lismonaghan, Letterkenny; Umlagh, Carrigart;
Ballyduff Park, Lifford; Ard Ghlass, Glencar Irish, Letterkenny; Churchyard Lane, Carrontlieve, Fahan; Rockview, Carrickboy, Ballyshannon; Oak Grove, Roughpark, Letterkenny; Forest Park, Killygordon; Lisnakelly, Tullyarvan, Buncrana; Ard na Greine, Glencar Scotch, Letterkenny.

Maps detailing the proposed rights of way are available on the Council’s website, and members of the public may view them at local service centres during office hours. Submissions or observations can be made until 8 May.