Donegal County Council Enhances Resources to Expedite DCB Payments

Donegal County Council has announced the addition of extra staff to expedite payments under the Defective Concrete Blocks Enhanced Grant Scheme. This decision follows numerous complaints from homeowners regarding delayed payments, which have led some contractors to discontinue their work on affected properties.

The council is currently addressing a significant increase in claims as more homes undergo remedial works this summer. Since July, a total of 271 claims have been submitted, with the average processing time for claims being 21 days. Out of these, 82 claims were processed and paid within the stipulated timeframe, while 48 claims experienced longer processing delays.

Current Status of Claims and Financial Impact

As of August 2025, 113 claims have been approved and paid, leaving 27 claims pending payment. To date, the council has disbursed payments totaling approximately €117 million (exactly €117,710,248), with nearly 600 homes currently undergoing necessary repairs.

“The Council is committed to issuing reimbursements, under the Enhanced Scheme, to applicant homeowners as soon as practical,”

the council stated in its monthly update on the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme. They also expressed appreciation for homeowners’ patience as staff manage the increased workload.

Cllr Joy Beard of the 100% Redress Party, who initially raised concerns with the council in July, emphasized the importance of timely processing. “I will continue to push for claims to be processed and paid within the three-week target so families can rebuild their homes and lives without unnecessary delays,” she remarked.

Remediation Progress and Future Outlook

As of July 31, 2025, the number of homes that have been fully remediated has reached 115, representing just 5% of the total 2,198 applicants enrolled in the scheme. The council is actively working to improve the situation and reduce the backlog of claims, ensuring that affected homeowners receive the support they need in a timely manner.

The enhanced resource allocation aims to alleviate the strain on council staff and facilitate quicker processing of claims, ultimately providing much-needed relief to homeowners impacted by the defective concrete blocks issue.