Defective block homeowners in an estate in Co Donegal that was severely flooded almost eight years ago have urged Government ministers to let them relocate, rather than having to rebuild on a floodplain.
Homeowners in Elm Park in Buncrana, whose properties are approved for demolition under the State's defective concrete block remediation scheme, say they are at crisis point and cannot wait five years until a planned flood defence scheme is completed.
Nine houses identified by the Office of Public Works (OPW) at flood risk in the estate are impacted by defective concrete blocks.
Some homes were flooded to a depth of 1.2 metres in August 2017. Flooding also occurred in June 2012.
The legislation underpinning the State's defective concrete block remediation scheme states that houses approved for demolition must be reconstructed in the same position.
The Defective Concrete Block Act 2022 does not allow for relocation.
The OPW confirmed that the delivery of the Buncrana-Luddan Flood Relief Scheme is expected to be completed in 2030.
Ulster University's Research Director for Geography and Environmental Sciences Professor Paul Dunlop, who is an affected homeowner, said: "Common sense must prevail as … these houses won't last that long [until 2030]."
Prof Dunlop said: "A lot of homeowners who lost their homes in 2017 spent in the region of €70,000 to €80,000 to reinstate their homes. They've all lost flood insurance.
"Since then, homeowners discovered their houses were built with defective concrete blocks. We're talking about houses that are structurally unsound.
"Nobody wanted more flood relief more than the people who live in this development, but we're in a situation where homes are not worth saving.
"It makes no sense for the State to pay almost €2.8 million to rebuild homes in an area with no flood defences.
Prof Dunlop said one house is so badly damaged it has to be demolished in May, as the owner cannot wait any longer.
"We're asking the Minister for Housing James Browne, and the Minister of State at the OPW Kevin 'Boxer' Moran to come up with a common-sense solution to allow us to leave a dangerous area."
Homeowners on the flood plain in Elm Park who have been approved for demolition said a decision on relocation is needed within weeks.
"There are good incentives to allow relocation. It's environmentally sound, and it's a more sustainable solution. It removes people out of a dangerous area."
What has the Department of Housing said?
A spokesperson for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage said officials met colleagues from the OPW last year and again in January of this year to discuss the matter.
Elm Park housing estate is located on the left bank of the Crana river, upstream of Buncrana town.
The department spokesperson said: "The OPW is the process of developing a flood relief scheme for the nine houses in the cul-de-sac in Buncrana, which are on a flood plain beside the Crana river.
"The construction of the flood relief scheme is to provide protection to nine houses, and the OPW confirmed that no other houses in the estate are in a flood risk area."
The spokesperson continued: "Of these nine houses, eight may qualify for the Defective Concrete Block (DCB) grant scheme, the remaining single house is as we understand it, unlikely to be eligible for entry to the scheme.
"Minister Browne is aware that some homeowners have requested that Donegal County Council explore the option of them availing of a relocation payment instead of availing of grant funding to remediate their homes.
"Such a payment and approach would be outside the scope of the current DCB scheme as set down by the provisions of the Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022.
"The department is awaiting further information on the houses concerned from the Housing Agency before being in a position to consider the matter further."
What has the OPW said regarding the residents' proposal?
A spokesperson for the OPW said: "Donegal County Council and the OPW are aware that all Elm Park residents have given clear expression of their preference, in their circumstances, to be relocated and to have their houses demolished.
"The OPW, as part of the design options for flood risk management, does not currently have in place a scheme for relocating homes at risk of flooding".
They added that Donegal County Council has been in correspondence with the residents of Elm Park on a regular basis.
Donegal County Council held two in-person meetings in February and May of 2024 "to give updates, inform residents and to listen to their feedback".
The OPW said it is aware that the nine properties at flood risk in Elm Park are also impacted by defective concrete blocks.
It has met the Department of Housing to discuss the respective schemes for the residents of Elm Park.
To progress these discussions, Donegal County Council has recommended that these homeowners apply for the DCB enhanced scheme so that the level of redress they would qualify for under that scheme can be determined.
The OPW said it "understands that all those homeowners who can make an application under this scheme have done so".
They added: "Once that information is available, the OPW and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has agreed to re-engage with Donegal County Council on this matter in order to assess an appropriate response or responses."
What is the position of the Buncrana-Luddan Flood Relief Scheme?
Donegal County Council has been tasked with delivering the Buncrana-Luddan Flood Relief Scheme.
Consultants were appointed in May 2021. The scheme is currently at Stage One - development and preliminary design stage.
The preferred scheme option will be presented to the public during a public consultation day, scheduled for July 2025.
It is expected a planning application will be submitted by mid-2026. Construction of the scheme is expected to begin in 2027.
Substantial completion is expected by mid-2029 and final completion is expected in summer 2030.
The Buncrana-Luddan Flood Relief Scheme is one of 100 flood relief schemes at design, planning and construction across the country.
It is funded through €1.3bn for flood relief measures under the National Development Plan.
When he held office previously, Minister Moran met with residents of Elm Park after the flooding in 2017.
What action have the residents taken?
Residents presented a case to the OPW and the local authority that they should be relocated more than a year ago.
All homeowners at the bottom of Elm Park who can make an application under this defective concrete block remediation scheme have done so.
Prof Dunlop said Department of Housing officials insisted homes had to get tested and come onto the scheme before they would decide.
He said: "Three homes are approved for demolition and other five homes have met the damage threshold and have been accepted onto the scheme by the Housing Agency.
"This means that all homeowners will be entitled to some form of remediation from the State.
"In principle, they [the ministers] could get together now and talk about the situation. What's required is ministerial intervention to decide on this issue."
Prof Dunlop said the residents' proposal "would save the State several million euro in flood relief works".
Residents of Elm Park will hold a meeting next Monday night, which is expected to be attended by local political representatives.
If the department decides to accept the homeowners request, it would be the first such deviation from the legislation that underpins the defective concrete block scheme.
How is this matter affecting residents in Elm Park?
Winnie O’Neill, 75, lives in Elm Park.
She said: "When you buy your house, you have your kids - they grow up. You're left a widow, but you're happy in your home, because it's your secure place.
"Then in 2017 we were flooded. I was out of my house almost a year. Then I got back in and said that'll never happen again. Then, we were hit with the defective blocks. That was a double whammy.
"It really has taken a toll on my health. My three kids have left home. I'm in the house on my own.
"Every time you hear a crack, you're asking 'is it coming down? Is there more coming down?'
"It's frightening. It really is frightening. I don't know how I can stand up much longer to be honest. That's God's truth.
"Our local TDs are doing their best, our county councillors and Donegal County Council are behind us. We need the Government and the Department of Housing to get something done.
"It doesn't make any sense to rebuild on a flood zone. We can't get any insurance. We need relocation.
"I hope we get some sense of fairness. What happens if our house floods again if they're rebuilt?"
'We, as a community, as all neighbours, we've had enough'
Eugene Donaghy, who also lives in Elm Park, said: "When we came down here to buy our home and to be a part of the community, we never envisioned vast amounts of water were going to come through our properties.
"It's very important that we have ministerial intervention to turn around and help us to the point of getting answers.
"We, as a community, as all neighbours, we've had enough. We're homeowners, we're taxpayers. It’s crucial that we have people now working on, advocating on our behalf.
"Ministers need to listen to us, to see what we've had to put up with ... It's a case where it's not going to be too long, I would imagine, before this [flooding] happens again."
'We love our home ... but it's too dangerous'
Paul Clifford, another resident in the estate, said: "This all started in 2017 with the flood. It was very dangerous. We'd never imagined that we'd also had the double whammy of defective blocks too.
"We were in denial. We never thought we had mica but as it turns out, it looks as if, we have mica as well.
"Flood schemes are a complicated business and implementing protective measures takes time.
"We can't rebuild houses on a flood plain without running the risk of those new houses getting flooded again. It makes no sense.
"It's been very challenging. We have two children in their early 20s and one teenager doing her Leaving Cert next year.
"Our whole lives are put in hold because we have no longer options. We can't sell a house in a flood plain or a house with defective blocks.
"We can't make decisions to downsize or move to different, smaller sized house when our lives are changing.
"We love our home. We love Elm Park, but it's just too dangerous. It's unfeasible to live in a house with defective blocks.
"It's been eight years since the flood, and it [flood relief scheme] is still at the planning stage.
"We don't have the time to wait. It seems senseless to rebuild your house with no protection for further floods.
"We could have a new, partially built house that could be flooded again or potentially damaged," Mr Clifford said.
