Accommodation and Storage
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This group will be looking into the severe lack of available rental accommodation throughout Donegal and ways in which alternative and temporary accommodation can be made available for people and families displaced during the rebuild of their homes.
We are looking into all possibilities of how and where temporary homes for homeowners could work.
We aim to work together and engage with Donegal County Council, planners and all relevant stakeholders to get a solid plan in place and rolled out in as short a time as possible.
Finding a way for temporary accommodation to be put in place throughout the county for homeowners while their properties are being demolished.
SUBMISSION TO: Donegal County Council – Central Planning Unit
ON: Draft County Development Plan 2024-2030
ON BEHALF OF: Redress Focus Group – Temporary Accommodation
TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION GROUP FAQs
Is there an allowance for accommodation on the Enhanced Defective Block Scheme?
Yes. The defective block scheme allows for 15k towards accommodation while your home is being rebuilt and 5k for storage. You are permitted to use this for rent, mobile home, cabin etc. and you can combine the two sums together to give a total of 20k if storage will be included in your rental accommodation for example.
I am over the cap of 420k to rebuild my home. Am I still eligible for this allowance for accommodation and storage?
No. Unfortunately in the Enhanced DB Scheme this allowance is not given if your costs come over 420k. The max grant is 420k so if your like for like rebuild cost alone comes in at 420k then these costs and professional fee costs etc will not be granted for anything over and above 420k.
I keep hearing there is no accommodation available in the county? Is this true?
Yes, the availability of accommodation throughout the county is very limited and this poses a big problem for defective block homeowners needing to find somewhere to live while their homes are rebuilt.
Do the government have any plans to provide extra accommodation for homeowners?
No. At present there are no plans to build/purchase/provide any type of accommodation for homeowners while their homes are rebuilt.
How will the Temporary Accommodation Focus Group attempt to solve the issue of temporarily housing people and families during the rebuilding of their homes?
The group is currently working on a submission to the Donegal County Development Plan 2024-2030 on the issue of temporary accommodation for private homeowners. We have engaged with Donegal County Council and planners on this and aim to continue to highlight the essential need in this regard. We hope to get others on board who may be able to help drive this forward and solve the issue.
What solutions are the group thinking could work?
There is nothing available to rent and mobile homes are skyrocketing due to demand, not to mention the scarcity of them, apparently they’re becoming harder to get. We need to think outside the box. We have spoken to various people and there are possibilities but again we have to do some work. Like 4 green field sites 12/14 cabins? Or 2 or 3 cabins in the green areas of estates? Bulk buying costs and using the allowance of 15/20k that each person receives for rent and storage could work in here someway. Submission to the county development plan is in progress
Temporary Accommodation Volunteer Role Description
Temporary Accommodation
Main Role(s):
- Being aware of current housing, accomodation and property legislation and policies.
- Liaising with State Bodies.
- Liaising with Homeowners.
- Researching for sources of temporary accomodation.
- Developing a Temporary Accommodation strategy for Homeowners whose property/ies are being demolished.
- Communicating to the Volunteer Coordinator and RFG Committee what the group is working on, upcoming meetings and outcomes when available. The RFG committee reserves the right to attend meetings where appropriate.
- Help to build a supportive and empowering Redress Focus Groups community by attending meetings and sharing info online when possible.
- Working with the group to form action plans and pathways putting tasks and timelines in place to help towards achieving the goals of the group and resolutions to the issues.
- Appoint a Volunteer Lead to liaise with Volunteer Coordinator and Committee.
Temporary Accommodation Volunteer Agreement
Click here to download the Volunteer Agreement Form
Please print out the form, fill it in, and send it back to us via email at info@redressfocusgroups.ie
Please note, this agreement is not a legal or formal document and is purely for the benefit of the volunteers and organisers of Redress Focus Groups to ensure clarity for all and the smooth running of the initiative. This is also a requirement of our membership with Donegal Volunteers and Volunteers Ireland.