Sixteen Killybegs housing units advancing but process ‘a little slow’

Sixteen housing units at Killybegs on the old Fintra Road are now at an advanced pre-planning and design stage, councillors have been told at a special plenary session of Donegal County Council.

But in welcoming the news, Cllr Niamh Kennedy (Ind.) said the process was “a little slow” and also needed to cater for larger family units.

The proposals will include 4 one-bed apartments and 12 two-bed apartments.

Councillors were told that the matter had been presented to the Donegal MD elected Members at a workshop on April 11 and that the proposals had subsequently been presented to the Department of Housing on April 23.

Tenders are now being prepared for specialists to carry out advanced detailed ground investigations in conjunction with the preparation of the ‘Part 8 application’ which allows for the application of planning permission for projects by local authorities.

This will be advertised in June 2024.

Engagement is also ongoing with Uisce Eireann regarding their requirements, they were also informed.

In welcoming the positive developments, Cllr Kennedy told the meeting that all the units referenced were one and two bed apartments, but there was a growing need for larger family housing in the area as well.

“Other areas as well have been identified and it is great we are in this process, but again, it is a little slow, in the rural areas, there is a demand there as well and there are requirements.”

She also alluded to her own observations on the campaign trail and that she had never experienced “so many lovely empty homes that are vacant for quite a while but still in very good shape”.

When asking the neighbour, they will say that person is deceased. And while not knowing whether the situation is “in probate” or whatever, it remained the case that there were “a multitude of those that are sitting in our countryside” that could be “reused and repurposed”.

She was also pleased that the Part 8 Planning approval had been obtained for six housing units at Glassan in Kilcar, and that tenders were being prepared to procure a multidisciplinary design team to deliver that project.

Approval had also been agreed on five housing units at Glencolmcille, where consultants had been procured to carry out Environmental Screening and again tenders were now being prepared to procure a design team to deliver the project.