Planning hold-ups and poor infrastructural maintenance has been blamed for jeopardising multiple Inishowen housing developments, and risking hundreds of construction jobs, according to a building group.

In the past year there has been a 78% fall in the number of new homes built in County Donegal.

Builders in the area have attributed a lack of water and sewage upgrade work to the slowdown in new developments.

According to Henry McKinney, from Foyle Grange developments, his firm has experienced a range of problems.

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He said: "No planning has been passed for multiple developments from Muff to Greencastle.

"Some of the sub-contactors we employ will be let go from now on, they'll have nothing," warned Mr McKinney.

Representatives from the building sector held a meeting in Buncrana last week, where the delegates declared a vote of no confidence in Donegal County Council.

In a statement Donegal County Council said: "The issue of housing development was discussed at length at a meeting of the Inishowen Electoral Area Committee."

"The committee agreed to a request from the group recently formed to represent the developers, for a deputation to attend a meeting in September."

Mr McKinney called on the council to address water and sewerage problems.

"There is €19m for water alone sitting in Dublin for Inishowen and it's still there, we need to sort this out," he added.

(PR/JM)