Four new social housing schemes have been opened in Donegal during a visit from Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy TD.

Minister Murphy visited the county to officially open schemes in Stranorlar, Newtowncunningham, Manorcunningham and Crievesmith Letterkenny. He also turned the sod on two further social housing developments in Donegal Town and Long Lane Letterkenny.

The visit marks progress on almost €23m in Social Housing provision in Donegal under the Rebuilding Ireland Programme. Approximately 115 new homes are being delivered across the six schemes.

Joe Peoples Director of Housing, Corporate and Cultural Services with Donegal County Council, said: "This is just the beginning of Donegal County Council's ambitious Social Housing Programme.

-- Advertisement --

"The Council's Housing Construction Programme is projected to deliver 298 social housing units over the next two to three years representing an investment in excess of €50 million. The following projects will be on site in 2019 on Council landbanks at Killybegs, Long Lane Letterkenny, Donegal Town, St. Johnston, Raphoe, Malin and Buncrana. Additional projects are also being planned for Donegal Town, Bundoran, Buncrana, Dunfanaghy and Letterkenny. The Council is continuing to work to source suitable landbanks throughout the County to develop new projects in addition to those currently planned."

Tenants have already moved into their new homes in Stranorlar and Newtowncunningham while offers have been made in the last week for the new houses in Manorcunningham and Letterkenny.

The Council's Turnkey Acquisition programme is anticipated to deliver 300 to 400 social housing units in towns and villages across Donegal over the next few years.

(CM/MH)