Commencement notices were issued for 45 homes in Donegal last month, all of them one off housing units.
That’s a 50% drop on the 90 notices issued in February 2025.
Meanwhile, Cllr Joy Beard has said the latest housing commencement figures for Donegal clearly show that the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme is failing homeowners and preventing progress on the ground.
Cllr Beard say in a county where thousands of homes need to be demolished and rebuilt, these figures should be going in the opposite direction.
Detailed figures from 2014 to 2026 below.
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Cllr Beard Statement in full –
Cllr Joy Beard has said the latest housing commencement figures for Donegal clearly show that the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme is failing homeowners and preventing progress on the ground.
Just 45 homes commenced in Donegal last month, all of them one-off housing units, a 50% drop on the 90 commencements recorded in February 2025.
Cllr Beard said that in a county where thousands of homes need to be demolished and rebuilt, these figures should be going in the opposite direction.
“These figures are a red flag. In Donegal, we should be seeing a steady increase in commencements as families begin rebuilding their homes. Instead, what we are seeing is a sharp decline.”
She said the issue is not a lack of demand, but a lack of ability to start.
“People are not choosing to delay. They are being forced to delay because the scheme, as it stands, is not workable for many homeowners.”
Cllr Beard said families are facing barriers at every stage of the process.
“Homeowners are dealing with significant shortfalls and upfront costs that are simply beyond their reach. While grant rates have been increased, those increases have effectively been absorbed by inflation, with construction costs rising by approximately 8–9% over the past two years.”
She said delays are compounding the problem.
“We have people waiting over a year for testing and determinations, and others stuck in appeals for up to two years. That is an extraordinary length of time for families to be left in limbo.”
Cllr Beard said the practical realities of rebuilding are also preventing people from moving forward.
“There are no houses to rent, so families have nowhere to go while their homes are being rebuilt. On top of that, compliance requirements such as BCAR are adding further cost and complexity.”
She said these combined pressures are stopping people from taking the first step.
“When you add it all together – the financial shortfalls, the delays, the lack of accommodation, and the additional costs – it is no surprise that people are not starting. The risk is simply too high.”
Cllr Beard also highlighted concerns around the final stage payment.
“The final 10% payment is causing real worry for homeowners. While it is paid at the end, it represents a significant sum of money. Some larger builders may be able to carry that, but many cannot, meaning the burden often falls back on the homeowner to bridge that gap.”
“For families already trying to make up a shortfall, this is an added pressure that is simply too much.”
Cllr Beard said the falling number of commencements is a direct reflection of these barriers.
“This is not just a statistic. It is evidence of a system that is not working. If the scheme was working, we would see commencements increasing. Instead, we are seeing them fall.”
She warned that unless urgent changes are made, progress will continue to stall.
“We need to remove the barriers that are preventing people from starting. That means addressing the financial gaps, reducing delays, and giving homeowners certainty from the outset.”
She concluded:
“Homeowners have waited long enough. They should not have to fight a system that was meant to support them. The falling commencements are a clear sign that this scheme needs to be fixed, and it needs to be fixed now.”
