Devastating impact on young adults in North Leitrim as housing association pulls out of accommodation project

Councillors were greatly disappointed to learn that Newgrove Housing Association had pulled out of a project that would see a purpose-built accommodation facility built to meet the long-term accommodation needs of a number of young adults with disabilities in the Manorhamilton area. 

It had been anticipated that a formal funding application under the Capital Assistance Scheme would be submitted by the association. 

Cllr Padraig Fallon who raised the topic at the latest Manorhamilton MD meeting said the response was "very disappointing" and said he had thought "things were progressing very nicely". 

He continued that it was "extremely disheartening and devastating for the number of young adults that are impacted by this". 

Cllr Frank Dolan, who also raised the issue, said it was "extremely disappointing" to be "back to square one again" and it was "extremely frustrating not only for the participants but for the parents who are becoming elderly and becoming worried about what will happen to them after they're gone."

Cllr Felim Gurn said the project has been in the pipeline for eight years now and said that €500,000 was approved through the HSE to cover staff costs. 

"The site is there, the design of the house is there, and that funding is still in place; lying unspent for the last two or three years," he said.

The council response assured councillors that "a significant amount of preparatory work has been completed and it is now a matter of seeking an alternative Approved Housing Body (AHB) to partner with on the project. The council remains fully committed to bringing this project to fruition. 

The Housing Department had been working with Newgrove as an AHB as well as the HSE, local elected members, the National Learning Network and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 

Cllr Gurn noted that the funding for the project must come through an AHB.

Cllr Mary Bohan said it was "soul-destroying" for the parents because "they're carers, parents and everything to them and then to wait so long and give them hope."

Ms Mary Quinn, Director of Services, Housing, Corporate Services, Community and Cultural Services said the turn of events was "deeply disappointing and frustrating". 

She said the council will now liaise with the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) and identify other AHBs that do similar work to Newgrove. She noted that in Sligo Sophia Housing provides such facilities. 

"We will be going back out for an expression of interest as soon as possible; while this is a setback, we will get another partner on board and bring this to fruition. We know how important this is to the families." 

Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Cllr Justin Warnock said he felt "very sorry for the families who are being let down again. We will be meeting them again and assure them we will do everything in our power to get this back on track."

Cllr Sean McDermott said he has spoken with a number of families affected and "to find out now that this has happened, what faith will they have now in the system that has let them down so often over the last seven years. We have to make sure it happens."

Councillors complimented the work done by the council to date.