Refuge centres sought for defective concrete block homeowners

Donegal County Council has been urged to provide community safe hubs during red weather alerts for people in defective concrete homes.

Councillor Joy Beard from the 100% Redress Party says the council must expand its civil defence plan to be more proactive than reactive.

Under the current Civil Defence Plan, Donegal Civil Defence team can provide emergency housing to people following an incident of any kind. Emergency accommodation can be offered or, in the event of a larger scale demand, bedding can be deployed in community buildings.

“It’s important that people feel confident in a situation like that that Civil Defence will be providing that assistance and no one will be left in a situation where they feel they are in danger,” said Anne Marie Conlon Head of Economic Development at Donegal County Council.

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The current plan will not be reviewed by the Department of Defence until early 2026, councillors heard.

Cllr Beard called on the council to consider the number of families who could be displaced in the event of severe weather.

“We cannot wait until 2026,” Cllr Beard told Monday’s council meeting in Lifford.

“The situation is far too serious because homes are deteriorating rapidly now.”

Cllr Beard said that the “vast majority of houses” are not yet on the defective concrete block scheme and cannot access ancillary or emergency repair grants.

She reminded the council that a red weather warning represents a danger to life.

“I don’t think we are getting the picture here,” Cllr Beard said.

“There are hundreds and hundreds of families out there.

“There is no housing, how are we going to suddenly, when there is a weather warning, pluck these houses out of the air.

“We need the community facilities to be advertised prior to a red warning, not when the event happens. Let’s plan ahead to offer families safety before something does happen.”