Fears young people will immigrate because they can’t build or afford homes

Fears that young people will immigrate because they can’t afford to build houses on their own land were expressed at a recent meeting of Glenties Municipal District. Independent Councillor Micheal Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig said he wanted to know what the long term plan was for housing on islands. 

He said: “I want to know what we are doing for long term planning for Arramore. We have a housing need on the island. A lot of islanders are leaving because they can’t return because housing is too dear.”

He also said that not being able to obtain planning on the N56 was frustrating and causing young people to immigrate, adding the system wasn’t working and was destroying the Gaeltacht.  

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The Cathaoirleach of Glenties Municipal District, Fianna Fáil Councillor Anthony Molloy said that he had raised the issues pertaining to planning on the N56 before and felt that he hadn’t received a ‘real answer.’ 

“We have to keep at it. It is not the same as the M50. It is just so sad that your own family can’t build on their own land,” he said. 

He said that he felt that the people of Donegal were being discriminated against due to this and said he had raised the matter in Dublin. 

Sinn Féin Councillor Marie Therese Gallagher said councillors couldn’t override national policy but that they could enact a clause. 

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She said: “If traffic volumes are below a certain amount an exception can be made.”

She said that a working group had been set up to discuss the issue which had met a number of times and stopped. She said that perhaps it was time the working group was re-established.