CE Report Sept 2025

Chief Executive’s Management Report

September 2025 Council Meeting

Report

Management Report – September 2025

Retirement of Liam Ward, Director of Services/ Deputy Chief Executive

Liam Ward who currently serves as Director of Services for Community Development and Planning and also Deputy Chief Executive, will retire from Donegal County Council on 10 October 2025.

Liam joined the organisation in June 1983 (over 42 years ago) as a clerical officer. He was successful in competing for several promotions over the years. He was appointed as Director of Services in January 2010 and has served on the Senior Management Team for the past 15 years. He has worked across many Council Departments some of which include Roads, Finance, Corporate, Information Technology, Human Resources, Housing, Community & Enterprise and Planning Services. In addition, he has served as the Director with responsibility for the Letterkenny/Milford Municipal District.

Liam has also represented the Council and our sector on many national boards and committees where he served with distinction and always making a considered and valuable contribution.

Liam has been a truly valued member of staff who has had the respect of colleague staff, Elected Members, Government Departments and many other public bodies, and the general public. He has displayed the highest order of public service, even in trying circumstances and represents the best of

Donegal County Council, here in the county and nationally.

Liam has been a great help to myself as Chief Executive in many ways but in particular in his role as Deputy Chief Executive for the past 5 years.

We wish Lliam and his family good health and many years of enjoyable retirement.

1.Community Development & Planning Services

Community Development

Town & Village Renewal Scheme 2025

The Town & Village Renewal Scheme was launched Minister for Rural and Community Development on the 18 March 2025, following which Donegal County Council sought expressions of interest for projects from local communities throughout the County.

The following 5 applications to the value of €1.7m were selected following a detailed appraisal of the 20 applications received.

 Stranorlar- Deliver Phase 2 of the Drumboe Woods Town Park - an intergenerational park in a woodland setting to serve all who live and visit the Twin-Towns

 Donegal Town - Enhance thermal performance and accessibility in and around the Craft Village

 Milford - The refurbishment, restoration and development of the Gallowglass Community Centre

 Dunkineely- Public Realm Improvements & Streetscape Enhancement

 Leitir Mhic an Bhaird – Improved recreation amenity and play experience

Capital Projects Delivery Unit & Taking in Charge of Housing Estates Division

Major Projects Update

The Major Projects Division has been established to manage the delivery of major projects funded from various sources, including URDF, RRDF, BEDF, Failte Ireland, Shared Island and Peace Programme Funding. It also includes the Building Control and Taking in Charge functions. The range of projects currently being managed are as follows:

Fort Dunree:

In partnership with Fáilte Ireland, this project proposes to transform the Fort Dunree visitor experience, providing new public spaces, refurbishing existing infrastructure and provision of a new glass walkway. Unfortunately, An Coimisiún Pleanála have refused our planning application for the development and we are currently considering the next steps with the Design Team and Project Board.

Letterkenny SURS – Phase 1:

This Shared Island, Enterprise Ireland and Donegal County Council co-funded project proposes the development of 7,717m2 Enterprise Space, Alpha Building, Beta Building linking with the Letterkenny 2040 public realm. Following an

unsuccessful tender process in 2024 the Donegal 2040 DAC is currently considering options to progress the project.

Lifford Common:

This project proposes the development of a multi-use park infrastructure, football facilities and servicing of lands. Construction has commenced on this project and remains on programme for completion in the coming months (Q4, 2025).

Riverine Community Park

This project proposes a cross border community park (Lifford and Strabane) over thirty acres including a pavilion, events space, play areas, bridge, and walkways. A funding application under the PEACE PLUS programme has been approved to the value of €16.7M. A design team is currently being appointed to prepare construction procurement documents and manage the construction phase.

Burtonport Harbour to Arranmore Island Regeneration – Phase 2:

The Burtonport Harbour to Island Regeneration (Phase 2) project proposes a ferry terminal building and enterprise space in the new harbour environment in Burtonport. Work commenced on site in August 2024 and is scheduled for completion in Q1 2026.

Killybegs 2040 – Town Centre Regeneration:

This project proposes the provision of a Public Realm outdoor space, strategic land acquisitions and the modification and extension of Island House to provide a Tourism Information Centre, Office space & public amenities. The official opening of the Public Realm took place in June & works are complete to Island House and we are awaiting handover from the Assigned Certifier.

Carndonagh Tús Nua Regeneration:

In partnership with Spraoi agus Spórt, this project will see the delivery of a Coworking Hub, Fablab, Creative Hub and public realm infrastructure. Following approval of the Compulsory Purchase Order in October 2024 land acquisition is now underway. Site investigation works were completed in Feb 2025 and detailed design/tender documentation is now complete. Decision Gate 2 – Pre-Tender Approval was received from the DRCD on the 17th of September. It is anticipated that tenders for construction works will be advertised in mid-October.

Ballybofey & Stranorlar ‘SEED’ Project:

This project proposes a public realm outdoor space, car parking and Enterprise Development in the town centre. The land acquisition process is continuing and an Oral Hearing, scheduled by An Coimisiún Pleanála for mid-September, was postponed at the request of the landowner. Detailed design/tender documentation has been completed in 2024. Decision Gate 2 – Pre-Tender Approval was received from the DRCD on the 12th of September for the “Ritz” element of the works only. It is anticipated that tenders for construction works will be advertised in midOctober.

Letterkenny 2040 – Reimagined Market Square:

This project consists of the demolition and removal of the existing public realm and construction of a new public realm environment. The tender process is complete and it is expected works will commence in October 2025.

Creeslough Community Regeneration Project:

This project consists of the construction of a new community hub building, a multi-purpose community field and a community garden and landscaped public realm. A design consultant was appointed in March 2025 and are now progressing with the detailed design process with Tender invites to issue in Q4, 2025.

Ramelton Re-Imagined/Historic Town Centre:

This project consists of the regeneration of public areas throughout the town centre including provision of civic meeting places, green spaces, surface renewal and pedestrian priority improvements. The tender process for the construction contractor is complete and works will commence at the end of September.

Repowering Buncrana

The overall objective of the project is to regenerate and reconnect the costal edge and historic town centre. The project consists of six key interventions:

1. A new iconic pedestrian bridge over the Mill River

2. The creation of a high performance promenade and Shore Front Green

3. Enhanced connection between the new Shore Front Green environment and the Main Street

4. Enhanced Shore Front walkway and promenade along the Fishing Green

5. Connection of the promenade to Swan Park, Buncrana Castle and Cockhill Road

6. The repurposing and extension of the old garda barracks building to create bespoke office accommodation.

Robin Lee Architects were appointed in Nov 2024 to undertake the design of the project and design work is ongoing. The closing date for the submission of observations and comments on the Part 8 planning application for the repurposing and extension of the old garda barracks was September 12th . A decision on the application is expected to be made at the November Plenary meeting, in anticipation of a future Category One funding application

Taking in Charge of Private Residential Estates

As mentioned previously, major barriers to progression of the Council’s obligations to take in charge private residential estates continue to arise where estates contain on-site wastewater treatment systems (referred to as Developer Provided Infrastructure -DPI) that are not connected to the public network and cannot be transferred to Uisce Éireann following Take Over.

With effect from 1 January 2024, Uisce Éireann have been assigned responsibility for the remediation of DPI infrastructure however Uisce Éireann would not immediately take charge of any roles that are currently being undertaken by the developers, owners, or users of DPI infrastructure but would continue any roles undertaken by local authorities to maintain and operate such infrastructure.

This remains a significant issue for Donegal as we have one of the highest number of private estates containing DPI waste water infrastructure in the Country. Discussions at national level are ongoing and are likely to take a significant amount of time before completion.

Refugee Response Unit Update

Donegal County Council continues to provide support to refugees through the Offer a Home Programme and the Local Authority Integration Team (LAIT).

The Community Integration Forum (CIF) are working collectively across the mainstream services, NGO, community and voluntary stakeholders for Ukrainian refugees, IP applicants and Those with Status. Issues raised by LAIT at their monthly meetings are brought to the Community Integration Forum for guidance and action. In June, the Department of Justice and the LGMA visited the county to gain an understanding of the emerging issues facing refugees. This visit afforded members of CIF and LAIT to present their experiences to date and raise issues for consideration by the department.

The Refugee Response Team are currently carrying out an audit to elicit detailed information from refugees in Offer a Home Accommodation, IPAS and DAC centres. Key policy areas being considered include employment, education, social inclusion and active citizenship. Outcomes will be monitored and evaluated to measure the success of integration. The results of the audit will guide the refugee response team on how to plan forward across these areas, particularly in,

• Education & Training

• Employment & Skills

• Health & Housing

• Community Engagement

So far, there have been over 260 audits carried out, and some of the challenges emerging include the language barrier and access to public transport. This leads to challenges in accessing employment and other integration opportunities; also notable is the 66% who say they are involved with community or sports groups or activities in their areas, showing a high level of engagement and welcome from Donegal.

A Numeracy and Literacy Programme will commence in September 2025, called ‘Manage My Home- funded by the 2025 Adult Literacy for Life - Collaboration and Innovation Fund. Donegal County Council LAIT will act as the lead organisation with Donegal ETB as the partner organisation. The objective of the Programme is to support LAIT target groups with household budgeting, meeting their financial literacy needs and improving their digital literacy. The Programme will be delivered in all 5 Municipal Districts in Donegal.

The LAIT has been awarded Slaintecare funding for a bespoke project to build capacity among refugees and asylum seekers on how the health service and community-based health infrastructure and preventative health services work in Donegal. This project will take place in the West Donegal Gaeltacht and Inishowen areas, where refugees are most isolated from the main hospital provision.

Number of Refugees

The total number of refugees in Donegal is 8749. There are 2113 people registered in the County as requiring International Protection as of 24th August 2025 including 926 children. There are a total of 6,636 new arrivals from Ukraine currently living in Donegal, according to the latest set of data from the Central Statistics Office

Commercial Accommodation

There are currently 29 providers of commercial accommodation for BOTPS in Donegal, with 569 people residing. Over the summer there was a significant number of commercial properties closed and BOTPs were offered alternative accommodation. Many chose not to take this offer meaning that they have been discharged from the system.

There are 28 International Protection Centres in Donegal providing accommodation for 2113 people, of which 926 are children (IPAS / LGMA numbers as of 24th August 2025.

All commercial accommodation is managed by the Department of Justice. All contractual elements are managed by the Department.

Offer a Home

Donegal County Council’s Refugee Response Team manage properties pledged under the Offer a Home Programme (OAH). There are 828 Refugees accommodated in 272 homes under the Programme in Donegal, and 299 awaiting accommodation placements under the Programme.

The reduction in the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) from €800 per month to €600 per month is having an impact on the scheme.

It has been our experience in the brief time since the reduction was implemented that several properties owners have taken back their accommodation. A number of those remaining have confirmed that they will continue until March of 2026 but that they will likely not continue under the OAH or ARP Programmes after that time. We currently have up to six properties due to be vacated at the owner’s request and we do not have alternatives to offer resulting in those impacted potentially presenting to Donegal County Council as homeless.

Local Authority Integration Team (LAIT)

The LAIT support team continue to provide one-to-one support to International Protection applicants, BOTPS, (Ukrainian) those with Refugee, Subsidiary Protection, or Permission to Remain Status and Programme Refugees.

Supports include access to services, including healthcare, welfare entitlements, language development, cultural orientation, entering employment, education, and

training, to enable them to live independently and fully integrate into the community.

The Team undertakes this role through a variety of mechanisms, including identifying needs and gaps in service provision and working with other stakeholders to meet these needs.

Donegal’s Local Authority Integration Team hosted an event which created a space for connection, belonging, and a celebration of cultural diversity. The first iFEST was held in Oakfield Park, Raphoe on 17th June 2025. With almost 300 in attendance on a glorious day, this was an event to remember.

The event featured an inspiring and uplifting programme with performances from the Middle East, Ireland, Ukraine, Africa, and the Roma community. A celebration of food, dance, poetry, music, conversation, and storytelling evoked emotional reactions from the audience as they celebrated their cultural heritage. There were opportunities to hear personal stories, to learn about different cultures, appreciate diversity, and, most importantly, build meaningful relationships.

Children were entertained by the award-winning team at Spraoi agus Sport and enjoyed exploring the fabulous gardens and park, which included a fun train ride around Oakfield grounds.

Services of the Council, Community, Roads, Environment, and Culture were in attendance to provide information and answer any queries.

Guests enjoyed a sample selection of food from different cultures, each prepared with exquisite attention to detail.

Tributes were paid to all those who performed, attended, and assisted on the day. The event was a resounding success, showcasing Donegal’s growing diversity and as a welcoming and safe place for everyone.

Planning Services

Development Applications Unit

Information relating to the significant levels of activity is set out below. The level of services relating to other case types (Pre-planning enquiries; general queries;

licensing) continues to form a significant part of the service to the community and amounts to approximately 5000 customer calls received per year across the service.

Based on the application numbers received in 2025 to the end of August, it is projected that approx. 2400 applications will be received in 2025

The enactment of the 2024 Planning Act represents a significant overhaul of the legislation that brings significant new demands on the Service with new time scales for decision making across a number of areas of work including pre-planning advice, timescales associated with large-scale residential and commercial applications, and new responsibilities for monitoring and publishing data on the council’s website. To date only a small part of the Act has been commenced which includes the Enforcement Section.

The primary legislation will be followed by amended regulations that will have to be considered and implemented as well. Indications from Government are that the various sections of the 2024 Act will be commenced on a rolling basis over the next 18 to 24 months.

ePlanning

The ePlanning system that enables planning applications to be submitted digitally went live in January 2024. Internal practices have been reviewed and continue to be updated to enable the administration of both ePlanning applications and the traditional hard copy applications. The Planning Service have facilitated several online seminars with agents and architects to introduce the new system and this

has contributed to an encouraging high level of use of the new process. The current rate of take up of the ePlanning service by the sector is 95% of all applications that have been received by the Planning Service. This is the highest rates of the ePlanning system use in the State.

Enforcement

The continued upward trend in the numbers of new complaints and caseload in the Enforcement Unit remains prevalent and continues to be a significant element of the function of the Planning Service. The total number of historic, unresolved cases remains significant and within this overall caseload the focus is to address current complaints that are not ‘statute-barred’ due to the passage of time, and to seek to resolve contemporary unauthorised development complaints in a timely fashion either by negotiation or by recourse to the court system.

Planning Policy

The planning authority has commenced work on Proposed Variation No. 1 to the County Development Plan 2024-2030, which provides for the following –

 New Area Plans for An Clochán Liath, Ballyshannon, Bridgend, Carndonagh, Donegal Town, and Killybegs and amendments to Chapter 17 - Area Plan General Introduction.

 Amendment of Buncrana Area Plan by Rezoning lands at Cockhill, Buncrana from Residential Phase 2 to Residential Phase 1.

 Amendment of Letterkenny Plan on foot of RZLT-related rezonings and rezoning of pNHA lands to Local Environment.

 Amendment of Ballybofey/Stranorlar Area Plan on foot of RZLT rezonings and rezoning of lands at Mullindrait, Stranorlar to Residential Phase 1.

Consultation with Members has taken place through the Municipal Districts, with the aim of having draft proposals on public display by Q 4 of 2025. Adoption of Proposed Variation No. 1 is likely to occur in mid-2026 following public consultation and other requirements.

We are also currently conducting a Review of CDP 2024 – 2030 to consider NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements Guidelines for Planning Authorities, July 2025 issued by DHLGH. This report will be presented to Council in due course with the implications arising set out.

Casual Trading-Review of Policy and Byelaws

The preparation of draft Casual Trading Byelaws for public consultation has been the subject of considerable engagement with stakeholders and Councillors in each Municipal District. With the approval of Council, the draft byelaws are targeted for publication and public consultation in Q4 of this year.

Review of Development Contribution Scheme

The Draft Development Contribution Scheme is tabled on today’s agenda seeking approval of Council for the draft byelaws to be published for public consultation in

Conservation Services

Conservations services continue to provide direct advisory services to property owners of heritage buildings across the county and is heavily involved in securing central funding for vital heritage projects. Details of the value of such funding streams in 2024 are set out below.

Built heritage Investment fund

Ring Fenced Thatch (BHIS)

Historic Structures Fund

Historic Towns Initiative

Thatching Rigs Portnoo

Thatch Repair Grant Scheme

Totals

€96,000

€87133

€153,000.00

€300,000 (match funded with a further €150,000)

€20,000

€33,000

€739,133.00

Regeneration and Development Team

€94,701.07

€87133

€153,000

€350,000

€20,000

€33,000

€737834.07

A summary of the status of the projects being advanced by the team is set out below. Some of the highlights include:

1. An application for THRIVE Strand 2 funding of €7m was submitted by the closing date of the 30 May 2025 for the revival of the former Courthouse to a tourist attraction. A decision is awaited on the application.

2. Moville Regeneration Strategy and Action Plan was launched on the 18 September 2025

3. A heritage led Regeneration Strategy and Action Plan for Raphoe is underway.

4. Work is continuing to progress the Back to Ballyshannon Project, at the Market Yard and College Street to planning consent and in readiness for future funding calls.

5. The Draft Town Centre First Plan for Glenties will be open for viewing and submissions from the 12 September 2025.

6. 1,347 applications have been received for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Scheme, with 287 fully paid to date to a total value of €15.93m.

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF)

Funding is provided from the Department of Rural and Community Development and calls for application to the Fund are sought under two categories. Category 1 relates to projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place and which are ready to proceed, i.e. shovel ready. Category 2 projects are those which require further development to become ready for Category 1 status.

Summary update of Projects

Table 1 below provides a summary update on the status and delivery of projects under the RRDF.

Table 1: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund Projects

Project Type Value (includes DCC cofunding)

RRDF Funding Call 4 – Category 2 –Project Development Measure

Back to Ballyshannon

Category 2

Category 2 (2020)

Current Status/Delivery



Funding application for projects identified in both Rathmullan and Dungloe submitted by the closing date of the 14 March 2025.

 Decision on funding application awaited.

€247,500 

Further screening to be arranged.

 Scope of the site has been extended to include properties on College Street, Ballyshannon.

 To be targeted for future Category 1 Funding.

 Work progressing to prepare project for planning consent.

Ramelton Reimagined/Historic Town Centre

Burtonport Phase II

Category 2

Category 1 (2022)

Category 1

Repowering Buncrana Category 2 (3rd Call)

€249,159

€7,949,868

 Project with CPDU for delivery.

 Property with CPDU for delivery.

 Team supporting delivery through participation on Project Steering Group.

 Property with CPDU for delivery.

 Part 8 approved February 2023.

 Unsuccessful for funding under Call 5 in May 2024.

 Team supporting delivery through participation on Project Steering Group. Rathmullan (in partnership with The Way Forward Rathmullan CLG).

 Project submitted for RRDF Category 2 Funding Call that closed on the 14 March 2025.

 Decision on funding application awaited. Milford Town Centre First Plan

€100,000  Town Centre First Plan launched November 2023

 GM Design Associates preparing a statutory planning scheme for the lands at Lower Mount Marian.

 Workshop held with Members of the LMMD on the 8 July 2025 seeking endorsement to publish statutory planning for Mount Marian lands, to target consideration of the application at the November 2025 Plenary meeting.

Glenties Town Centre First Plan

Creeslough Village Plan and Community Regeneration Project (in association with the Creeslough Working Group, Creeslough Community Association and Arup).

Moville Regeneration Strategy and Action Plan.

Dungloe

Ardara

Creeslough Minor Tourism Works

Bundoran Regeneration Plan

 Application made in April 2025 under Town and Village Renewal for funding to acquire former Milford Hotel which was unsuccessful.

€30,000 

GM Design Associates appointed to assist with preparation of the Plan.

 Engagement with the Glenties Town Team ongoing.

 Walkability Audit undertaken in December 2024.

 Workshop with Members of the Glenties MD held on the 13 May 2025.

 Public consultation event held on the 22 May 2025.

 Draft Plan to be presented for public consultation from the 12 September 2025.

 Village Plan launched 21 March 2024.

 Part 8 for Community Regeneration Project approved in September 2023.

 Project successfully awarded funding of €12.1m under Call 5 in May 2024 (total project value is €13.5m).

 GM Designs appointed in March 2025 to prepare detailed designs.

 Project with CPDU for delivery.

 Team supporting delivery through participation on Project Steering Group.

€24,500 

GM Design Associates appointed to assist to prepare Plan.

 Further public consultation event held on the 20 March 2025 to present the draft Plan.



Workshop held with the Members of the Inishowen MD on the 26 June 2025 to agree the final Plan.

 Launch of the Plan scheduled for September 2025.

€50,000 

Funding allocation under Town and Village Renewal to advance design and planning consent for public realm works at Main Stret, Dungloe.

 Tender issued to procure external design team.

 Tender appointment made and works commenced to prepare the project for planning consent.

€50,000 

Funding allocation under Town and Village Renewal to advance design and planning consent for buildings in Ardara.

 Tender package being prepared to procure external design team.

€50,000 

Council to facilitate drawdown of funding for works now to be arranged through the CCA.

€15,000  Tender issued to procure external support to prepare the Plan and these tenders now being assessed.

Buncrana Regeneration Plan

Lifford Regeneration Plan

Raphoe Heritage Led Plan

Downings Action Plan/Project Plan

Glenties Town Team

Creeslough Town Team

Buncrana Town Team

BallybofeyStranorlar Town Team

Moville Town Team

Milford Town Team

€40,000 

€40,000 

€60,000 







Inhouse 



Tender issued to procure external support to prepare the Plan and these tenders now being assessed.

Tender issued to procure external support to prepare the Plan and these tenders now being assessed.

Funding secured from the Build Heritage Investment Fund in March 2025.

Tender issued to procure external support to prepare the Plan.

Tenders assessed and successful tenderer appointed.

Work progressing to prepare draft plan.

Community consultation event held on the 10 July 2025.

Workshop to be arranged with the Members of the LMMD in September 2025.

 Town team established in August 2024 to represent the community in the preparation and delivery of the Glenties Town Centre First Plan.

€10,000 

Creeslough Town Team established and first meeting held on the 25 October 2024.

 Funding of €10,000 allocated from the DRCD to support town team capacity building.



External consultancy services procured to deliver team capacity building training to the Town Team, which is now completed.

 Team meeting monthly to deliver on the actions identified in the Creeslough Village Plan.

€10,000 

Allocation of €10,000 from the DRCD to support the establishment of a Buncrana Town Team.

 Town Team established in September 2024.



External consultancy services procured to deliver team capacity building training to the Town Team, which is now completed.

 Team meeting monthly to identify and deliver on the priority projects for the town.

 Town Team Plan prepared and due to be launched in November 2025.

€10,000 

Town Team established to deliver the Ballybofey and Stranorlar Regeneration Strategy with support from the Regeneration Team.

 Funding of €10,000 allocated from the DRCD to support projects identified by the Town Team.

 Team meeting monthly to deliver on the actions identified in the Regeneration Strategy.



Initial discussions ongoing to establish a Moville Town Team.

 Work to commence to establish a Town

Fál Carrach Town Team.

Call



Team to deliver the Milford Town Centre First Plan with support from Donegal County Council.

A number of public consultation event held in April, May and June to gauge interest in establishing a Town Team.

 First meeting of the Fál Carrach Town Team held on the 10 July 2025.

 Town Team working to prepare a Town Team Plan through public consultation and engagement.

Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF)

Funding is provided from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for towns with a population more than 10,000 which includes Letterkenny in this County, with calls for application to the Fund sought under two categories. Category 1 relates to projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place and which are ready to proceed, i.e. shovel ready. Category 2 projects are those which require further development to become ready for Category 1 status.

Summary update of Projects

Table 2 below provides a summary update on the current status and delivery of projects under the URDF.

Table 2: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund Projects

of Project (includes DCC cofunding).

Call 1 (approved September 2019)

3 Sub-Projects

Call 2

(May 2020 and approved March 2021)

6 Sub Projects

€3m

€19.3m (€4.8m DCC co-funding)

1 Prepare Letterkenny 2040 Regeneration Strategy

 Completed 2022.

2 Letterkenny Urban Regeneration site.

 DCC took possession of the former ESB site and adjacent lands through a CPO in 2023.

 Site to be developed for the Alpha/Beta Office accommodation, public realm and Housing.

 Completed 2025.

3 Public Realm/Linear Park Phase 1

 Opened June 2023.

1. Reimagine public space at Market Square.

 Project with CPDU for delivery.

2. Cathedral Quarter Park and Church Lane Shared Surface Scheme

 Acquisition of strategic site fronting Church Lane completed and now in possession of Donegal County Council.

 Avison Young appointed to take forward all previous engagement and act on Council’s behalf

as regards further offers/acquisitions/CPO.

 Council to consider further offers and advance any acquisitions/CPOs.

 Hall Black Douglas appointed as architect-led design team in January 2025.

 AAB Group Accountants appointed to prepare a Scoping/Feasibility Study and Business Plan in respect of the Creative Enterprise Hub element of the project and these services commenced in January 2025.

 Current design stage: data/information gather via tender for survey (topo, Ground penetration survey, elevational survey, ground investigations) completed.

 Design team working on overall designs.

 Workshop arranged with the Members of the LMMD on 1st October 2025 to provide an update on the project.

3. Renewal at Lower Main Street

 Valuations obtained and land acquisition offers made.

 Avison Young appointed to take forward all previous engagement and act on Council’s behalf as regards further offers/acquisitions/CPO.

 Council to consider further offers and advance any acquisitions/CPOs.

 Re-engagement with Donegal Youth Services carried out December 2024 and capacity testing exercise at Devlin Hall and adjoining lands commenced January 2025 using in-house architectural resource but this work has now paused due to other priority work.

 Council to explore other options to re-commence this work.

4. Revival of the Courthouse Visitor Experience Plan/Product identification and Business Plan

 EPIC Heritage Consulting Ltd appointed to prepare a Visitor Experience Plan/ Product Identification Plan and Business Plan for the development of a major visitor attraction at the Courthouse.

 Interpretation and Business Plan presented to Members of the LMMD in February 2025.

 Community consultation event held on the 18 February 2025.

Built Heritage Investment Scheme.

 Funding of €10,000 secured in March 2024 from the Built Heritage Investment Scheme for minor repair works and, with co-funding from Donegal County Council, these works have been completed.

THRIVE (EU) Funding.

 Funding of €199,969 allocated under THRIVE Strand 1 from the Northern and Western Regional Assembly for the purpose of engaging architect-led team to bring the project to Part 8 stage and enable a further application to THRIVE Strand 2. This funding allocation enabled:

- Appointment of Robin Lee Architects as architect-led design team in January 2025 together with supporting consultancy services in relation to topographical, conservation, structural engineering, QS, environmental, climate proofing, energy audit and business planning matters and; - Extensive stakeholder and citizen engagement

 Cost estimate for the delivery of the scheme is €9.5m

 Part 8 was approved at the plenary meeting of Donegal County Council on 26th May 2025.

 THRIVE Strand 2 funding application was submitted on 30th May 2025.

 On 17th September 2025, Minister James Browne announced the project as having successfully secured the maximum allocation of €7m.

 THRIVE Strand 2 allocation together with a further €2.5m in URDF support enables the onward delivery of the project.

 Project being handed over to CPDU for onward delivery.

5. Strategic acquisition to enable a Regional Transport Hub

 Avison Young appointed to take forward all previous engagement and act on Councils behalf as regards further offers/ acquisitions/ CPO.

 Consultation with Local Link ongoing in relation to private bus operators and short-term solution.

 Land acquisition offers made in December 2024 leading to collaborative approach with key landowner. Agreement to undertake masterplan for the lands to determine potential for public/private collaboration. Tender being drafted at present.

 Options for temporary bus hub being advanced in-house.

6. Strategic acquisition to enable LK Green Connect

 Part 8 in relation to the Cultural Corridor element of the project approved by Donegal County Council at the November 2023 Plenary meeting.

 In-house team has commenced steps to develop a Part 8 for Phase 2 (from constructed Phase 1 to Pearse Road).

 Valuation services of Avison Young being engaged in relation to phase 2 (from constructed Phase 1 to Pearse Road) and lands required for

Call 3 (March 2023 and approved July 2023).

“The Eat Out’ Outdoor Dining Infrastructure Project

Letterkenny Cultural Corridor

€4m

Youth/Community focused project at Lower Main Street

the Cultural Corridor element of the Scheme.

 All landowners engaged.

 Engagement ongoing with relevant stakeholders.

 Topographical survey completed.

 External structural/civil engineering consultative services procured for site investigation services access sought to 3rd party lands.

Revolving fund for acquisition costs of long-term vacant property or sites

 46 properties on the programme and all owners have been engaged with.

 Several properties already activated or being activated through the Croi Conaithe grant scheme and other schemes.

 Several properties currently for sale and these are being monitored.

 Valuation Services engaged in relation to property valuations.

 Legal Services engaged in relation to property acquisitions.

 Council to advance 10 properties for acquisition/CPO.

 4 properties added to the Derelict Sites Register.

 Construction completed.

 Part 8 approved November 2023.

 Valuation services of Avison Young being engaged in relation to lands required for the delivery of the Scheme.

 Services of Quantity Surveyor engaged to provide cost estimates for the scheme and work completed.

 To be targeted for future URDF funding call.

 Early engagements with Letterkenny Youth Club and Donegal Youth Services have commenced.

 Avison Young appointed in Q4 2023 to take forward all previous engagement and act on Council’s behalf as regards further offers/acquisitions/CPO.

 Capacity testing of potential lands available commenced in January 2025 with engagement with relevant stakeholders. Exercise paused due to resource requirements across RRDF programme.

Croi Conaithe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Scheme

The Croi Conaithe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Scheme opened for applications in July 2022 and Table 3 below provides further details of the applications received to-date.

Table 3: Summary of Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Applications

Addressing Vacancy and Dereliction Property Activation Program

This initiative was launched in April 2023 with targets set for Local Authorities to bring properties back into use. Surveys commenced to identify and verify occupancy status of properties appearing vacant and contact made with some owners. This work will re-commence once staffing resources permit and options will be explored to establish funding source to acquire identified properties. The acquired properties may subsequently be used for social housing, made available for sale on the open market or used for other purposes e.g. community use.

2023 Target:

To activate 350 properties and commence CPO in 6 cases. This has been achieved.

2024 Target:

To activate 300 properties and commence CPO in 6 cases. This has been achieved.

2025 Target:

To activate 300 properties and commence CPO in 6 cases.

Derelict Sites Register

The update and upkeep of the Derelict Sites Register falls within the remit of the Regeneration and Development Team since last year. There have been 4 new additions to the Register this year so far. A review of the 18 properties that were on the Register for a number of years is completing and as a result, to date 6 properties have been removed from the Register as they do not meet the criteria for inclusion on the Registrar.

In addition, a Derelict Sites Policy and Procedures has been developed which sets out the obligations and legislative procedures to be followed in respect of derelict sites and compulsory acquisitions and sets out the Council’s priority programme for making additions to the Derelict Sites Register. The Derelict Sites Policy and Procedures document was approved this year by the Elected Members at each MD level and by the Planning SPC.

2.Water and Environment

Climate Action

Climate Action Week 2025 13th-19th October

This year, Climate Action Week is scheduled nationally from 13th-19th October 2025 and the DCC Climate Action Unit are currently compiling an outline schedule of events.

The Climate Action Unit are also reaching out to local climate action contacts for Expressions of Interest in hosting an event, that supports one or more of the following themes:

 Biodiversity

 Grow Your Own

 Energy

 Sustainable Travel

 Circular Economy e.g. Repair & Reuse

Events can be registered and uploaded directly on a national Climate Action Week website at https://climateactionweek.ie/.

Inishowen Is Ours – PEACEPLUS Programme

As part of the Inishowen Is Ours PEACEPLUS programme, IDP organised a study visit to Rathlin Island on 22nd July to bring together stakeholders from across the region committed to addressing climate change, environmental sustainability and community development.

The Community Climate Action Officer attended the study visit which covered an overview of the Future Island-Island project, a forward-thing initiative exploring how island communities can adapt, sustain and thrive in the face of climate and economic challenges and will also include community-led circular economy and environmental initiatives on the island.

Community Climate Action Fund – Phase 2

The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment are due to confirm the launch date for Phase 2 of the Community Climate Action Fund which is expected in September / October 2025.

The Community Climate Action Fund is a government-funded scheme for communities and not-for-profit organisations to complete local projects and initiatives that help address climate change.

The funding will support small (up to €20,000), medium (€20,000-€50,000), and large-scale (€50,000-€100,000) community climate action projects in five key theme areas:

1. Community energy

2. Sustainable travel

3. Food and waste

4. Shopping and recycling, and

5. Local climate and environmental action

Details of the fund will be advertised widely with the PPN, local press and radio, social media and on the DCC website once announced.

Launch of the People’s Transition for Carndonagh Action Plan

Following in-depth community consultation, research and development, TASC (Think-tank for Action on Social change) in collaboration with IDP, ECO Carn network, Donegal County Council Climate Action Team and the Carndonagh community have created The People’s Transition Plan for Carndonagh. The plan incorporates actions under three key themes, which will support Carndonagh and its people through the Green Transition ahead. The launch took place on 15th August at The Daisy, Barrack Hill Town Park, Carndonagh.

The event attendees got the opportunity to participate with activities linked to the ‘Edible Neighbourhood’ action within the plan (including seed saving, propagation, seedling collection and planting).

Donegal County Council’s Climate Action Officer presented on the Council’s Climate Action Plan and the Carndonagh Decarbonising Zone. The presentation covered how beneficial it was to work together in developing The People’s Transition Plan for Carndonagh and developing the climate actions for the Decarbonising Zone and how both pieces complemented each other.

Flood Relief Schemes

Quarterly updates for the following flood relief schemes were provided for the February/March Municipal District Meetings:

 Burnfoot

 Buncrana

 Glenties

 Castlefinn

 Ballybofey & Stranorlar

 Lifford

 Ramelton

 Downings

 Letterkenny

 Pettigo

 Donegal Town

 Killybegs

Defective Concrete Blocks - Update

Background

Donegal County Council, as a Designated Local Authority, are tasked with the Administration of the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.

The Enhanced Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme offers financial assistance to support affected homeowners in designated local authority areas to remediate their dwelling, where their dwelling had been damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks in its construction.

The Enhanced Scheme has been in operation since 3rd July 2023.

The primary legislation which underpins the Enhanced Scheme is the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022.

This report provides an update on the implementation of the Enhanced Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme and covers the period up to and including 31st August 2025.

DCB

Scheme Overview as at 31st August 2025

Section 1 – Transitional Applications

At the commencement date, Donegal County Council had 1,296 applications received under the Previous Scheme which required transitioning to the Enhanced Scheme. These applications are referred to as “Transitional Applications”. Donegal County Council had issued approval to 849 applications prior to the commencement of the Enhanced Scheme.

1.1 : Status of Transitional Applications as at 31

st August 2025

Declaration of Floor Area (DOFA) received from Applicants for Grant Calculations to date under the Enhanced Scheme

Key Points:

 Of the 849 Transitional Applications which received Confirmation of Eligibility and Remediation Option by Donegal County Council under the provisions of the Previous Scheme, 527 applicants were approved for Option 1 and the remaining 322 applicants were approved for Option 2 – 5 and Blended Options.

 75% of all approved applicants have now submitted the required information (Declaration of Floor Area - DOFA, dimensioned drawings) to enable Grant Calculation by Donegal County Council.

 To date 97% of all submitted Declarations have been processed or returned to the applicant for follow up.

Section 2 - Referral of Applications to the Housing Agency

Under the provisions of the Enhanced Scheme, the technical assessment of validated applications is the remit of the Housing Agency. The initial step for an application, following validation and referral to the Housing Agency, is the Housing Agency’s Determination of Damage Threshold of the relevant dwelling.

The average timescale for Determination of Damage Threshold by the Housing Agency is 60 days.

For applications that meet the Damage Threshold, the Housing Agency provides an indicative timeline for determination of the Remediation Option & Grant Amount. The Determination of Damage Threshold and the Remediation Option Grant as decided by the Housing Agency is communicated to the applicant by the Council’s DCB Grant Office.

Where it is deemed by the Housing Agency that an application has not met the Damage Threshold or where an applicant is not satisfied with the Approved Remediation Option, the applicant may submit an Appeal to the Independent Appeals Panel.

Overview of Referral of Applications to the Housing Agency

2.1 Determination of Damage Threshold as at 31st August 2025

To date, 98% of applications assessed by the Housing Agency have been determined to meet the Damage Threshold.

2.2 Remediation Option & Grant Amount as at 31st August 2025

To date, the Housing Agency has decided the Remedial Option Grant on 55% of the applications which have been determined to have met the Damage Threshold under the provisions of the Enhanced Scheme. These Options are summarised below:

Section 3 - Payments Processed since the introduction of the Enhanced Scheme

Table 3 provides an overview of Payments issued to applicants since the introduction of the Enhanced Grant Scheme in July 2023.

3.1: Payments Processed since the Introduction of the Enhanced Scheme

3.2: Total Payments Issued – Previous Scheme & Enhanced Scheme Combined

3.3: Payment Claims Submitted – 4 Week Rolling Period

Average No. of days from Claim Submitted to Claim Paid (this includes time for submission of Further Information where the initial Payment Claim submitted was incomplete

No. of Days from a Valid Claim Approved to Claim

Donegal County Council fully recognises the importance of timely processing of valid Payment Claims under the Defective Concrete Blocks Enhanced Scheme, to ensure cash flow for all parties involved.

To date, Donegal County Council has processed valid Payment Claims and issued payments to applicant homeowners to a value of €132m (€132,589,585).

With almost 600 homes currently undergoing remedial works, the number of Payment Claims submitted has significantly increased over the recent period and this has resulted in a longer turnaround time for some payment claims. The

Council has introduced additional resources to work through the volume of claims. The Council appreciate homeowners’ continued patience and understanding as staff manage this heightened workload.

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

The support of the Elected Members throughout this process is acknowledged.

Section 4 - Overview of Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme

4.1 : Overview of Applications received under the Enhanced DCB Scheme

4.3 Remediation Option & Grant Amount as at 31st August 2025

This table outlines the decided Remediation Option Grants which have been notified to approved applicants by the DCB Grant Office.

Total No. of Grant Amounts decided to date (Previous Scheme & Enhanced Scheme) 1248

Total Value of Grant Amounts decided to date (Previous Scheme & Enhanced Scheme) €430,508,023

No. of Confirmation of Grant Amounts from the Previous Scheme as calculated / recalculated under the Enhanced Scheme by Donegal County Council (Transitional Applications) 615

Value of Grant Amounts from the Previous Scheme as calculated / recalculated under the Enhanced Scheme by Donegal County Council €208,622,827

Number of Confirmation of Grant Amounts received from the Housing Agency under the terms of the Enhanced Scheme 633 Value of Grant Amounts decided by the Housing Agency €221,885,196

4.4 Notice of Commencement & Remediation Works

No. of Commencements notified by Applicants to the DCB Grant Office 717

No. of Dwellings currently undertaking Remediation Works 580 No. of Dwellings Fully Remediated

Assistance to Applicants

The DCB Grant Office continues to actively engage with applicants across the full

scope of the Scheme. This includes Validation of Enhanced Scheme Applications, Ancillary Grant Applications, Notification of Decisions, Validation of Payment Claims, Processing Payments, Change of Competent Building Professional and all other general queries.

The DCB Section of Donegal County Council’s Website is updated regularly and contains all the information and links that an applicant may require at various stages of the application process.

The telephone clinics are available every Tuesday and Thursday (9am – 12.30pm) to assist applicant with any queries. The DCB Grant Office Team follow up on applicants’ queries outside of the specific telephone clinics.

Applicants can also submit queries via email to dcb@donegalcoco.ie and a member of the team will be in contact with the applicant.

The Community Facilitators play a vital role in supporting and guiding homeowners and families who are most vulnerable and / or applicants who may not have the necessary facilities to submit an online application. There are currently three Community Facilitators available to assist applicants throughout the county with recruitment underway for a fourth Community Facilitator.

Donegal County Council are continuing to process payment claims received under the DCB Scheme and the Council has made significant progress in assessing and processing payment claims in recent weeks.

Donegal County Council has been engaging with DHLGH Housing Remediation Unit to put in place a pre-funding arrangement to continue to allow Donegal County Council to make payments to DCB affected homeowners in a timely fashion.

3. Housing, Corporate & Cultural Services

Social Housing

Social Housing Delivery Pipeline 2022-2030

Donegal County Council’s overall social housing delivery pipeline is summarised below. These figures reflect the Council’s pipeline from 2022-2030 and includes inhouse projects, turnkey developments, Part V’s and AHB developments.

Summary Table

* Projects at design and planning stages can only progress with Uisce Eireann Connection Agreements and Departmental approval.

Photos below outline progress on site on social housing projects across the county.

Social Housing Second-Hand Acquisitions Programme 2025

The Department approved a new Social Housing Second-Hand Acquisitions Programme 2025 (€325 million) with the purpose of increasing the supply of social housing through targeted second-hand acquisitions for four priority categories. Donegal County Councils Capital funding allocation is €2 million for 2025, which has been fully committed.

The funding is to focus on four priority acquisition categories only as follows:

1. Tenancy Sustainment (Tenant in Situ)

2. Exits from Homeless Services

3. Persons with Disabilities / Elderly

4. Buy & Renew (Vacant/Derelict Properties)

As a consequence of this, there is now no general house acquisition programme.

An additional €50m was made available for this programme with a focus on larger families with children and Housing First clients, to exit from long-term emergency homeless accommodation into housing. This resulted in eight city and city and county councils receiving additional funding, which have the highest number of households that have been emergency accommodation.

The Council has recently received approval to enter into commitments to a value of up to 30% of our original 2025 allocation for acquisitions that will complete next year. This flexibility will allow us to continue progressing acquisitions in the closing months of 2025, with certainty on funding availability in 2026.

Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme

Donegal County Council received a 2025 allocation of 166 units (average spend of €34,000 per unit totaling €5,644,000) from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

From 2021 – 2024, Donegal County Council retrofitted 660 social housing units through this scheme with a further 197 social housing units currently on-site and due for completion by year end. However, given that the Council have a current stock level of 5,171 units (with approximately 87% built pre-2012), there is still much to do.

This Programme is of vital importance to households at risk of fuel poverty and it remains a key area of our work programme to reduce energy costs and improve living conditions for our tenants. The Council looks forward to continuing to exceed targets in this area and we are currently in discussions with the Department seeking additional allocation of units and funding going forward.

As per the recently published “2024 Local Government Climate Action Key Performance Indicators Full Report”, Donegal County Council placed 2nd on the National table for the number of social houses retrofitted by each Local Authority from 2022 – 2024.

Housing Grants

Housing Grants are available in the form of Housing Adaptations for People with a Disability, Mobility Aids and Housing Aid for Older People. These grants improve the homes and allow households to stay living within their homes for as long as possible.

Donegal County Council has a good record in delivery, generally exceeding Department allocations annually and securing additional resources through formal additional funding requests made to the Department. Local staff based within the Municipal Districts support this approach and enhance delivery through their local knowledge and interaction with other relevant stakeholders like the HSE.

The Department announced increased funding in housing grants for older people and those with a disability in late 2024, and the subsequent commencement of the revised Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People Scheme.

The improvements in this revision include an increase in the grant limits of over 30% and an increase of 25% in the income thresholds for eligibility. Key changes in the Regulations include:

 an increase in the maximum level of Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People to €40,000 (an increase of €10,000)

 an increase in the maximum level of the Housing Aid for Older People Grant to €10,700 (an increase of €2,700); and

 an increase in the maximum level of the Mobility Aid Grant of €8,000 (an increase of €2,000)

The revised scheme commenced on 1 December 2024 and all applications submitted on or after that date are considered under the revised scheme.

In previous years, the Council was able to obtain increases in our allocation in Q4 each year, following a redistribution by the Department of funding from local authorities who were not going to have their full allocation spent.

The table below confirms Council’s allocation in recent years and the re-distribution of funds from other Local Authority areas:

As a result of the increased thresholds, the opportunity to benefit from the National redistribution of underspend by other Local Authorities has been significantly diminished in 2025. Local Authorities will have to deliver the Programme within their original allocation as provided at the beginning of the year.

The matter will be discussed shortly at the Housing & Corporate SPC, where grants expenditure and commitments at the end of Quarter 3 will inform our needs for 2025 and potentially needs for 2026 also.

Library Service

National Public Library Open Day-September 27th In the weeks leading upto September 27th Donegal County Library Service invited everyone to take a closer look at what their local library has to offer. Our libraries showcased the wide range of free library based and online offerings throughout the fortnight and on the day including media literacy talks, information on how to make a will and events for children.

For more information visit Libraries | Donegal County Council - Culture Division

Fáilte Isteach Language Classes

Central Library resumed the popular Fáilte Isteach English Language classes every Wednesday beginning 10th September. This is a partnership with the Donegal Intercultural Platform and allows people who have moved to Ireland to improve their level of English in a relaxed and safe space.

Europe Direct Letterkenny

Tim Hayes, Former Head of Communication at the Commission Representation in Ireland visited Central Library, Letterkenny on September 22nd. Tim gave a presentation on Misinformation and Disinformation throughout the EU. He also spoke about the opportunities and benefits of the upcoming Sustainable Goals Week.

ChangeMakers

Central Library hosted the ChangeMakers Local and Global Development Awareness event on Tuesday 23rd September. ChangeMakers Donegal is a global citizenship education community project for adults in Donegal. Funded by Irish Aid, our project partners are the Inishowen Development Partnership, Donegal ETB, Trocaire, Concern Worldwide and Self-Help Africa.

Wainfest 2025

Wainfest 2025 was launched in Glenveagh National Park on Thursday the 18th of September promoting a fantastic programme of events around the theme of ‘Your Voice, Your Choice’ which will take place during October. For more information see Calendar | Donegal County Council - Culture Division

Arts Office

Culture Night

On Friday, 19th of September, Donegal County Council Culture Division proudly presented its 17th annual programme of events for Culture Night, the FREE, all-island public event that celebrates culture, heritage, creativity and the arts.

Once again, Culture Division was at the forefront of the Culture Night programme. Donegal County Museum highlighted the Working Over By - Donegal Working Lives in Scotland exhibition with an added Living History performance responding to the theme, while the Bernard McGlinchey Town Park in Letterkenny was the venue for Culture Night favourites, the Inishowen Carnival and their new spectacle show, ‘An Púca’. Culture Night events organized by local cultural groups also took place in Buncrana –co-ordinated by the town’s Night-Time Economy Advisor – as well as in Ramelton, Donegal Town and Ballyshannon. Similarly, Ealaíon na GaeltachtaCulture Division’s Culture Night partners in the county - supported a comprehensive programme of traditional music, song, storytelling and events for children across the Gaeltacht - ó Gaoth Dobhair, go Oileán Ghabhla, Rann na Feirste, Gleann Choilm Cille, Cill Chartha agus Ard a’Ratha. For the full programme see Donegal County Council website and www.culturenight.ie

Donegal Bay and Blue Stacks Festival

The 25th Donegal Bay and Blue Stacks Festival will take place from Friday, September 26th to Sunday, October 12th. Festival events will take place in a variety of towns and villages in the south and south west of the county, including Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Donegal Town, Leghowney and Glenties, as well as in Ballybofey and Stranorlar.

This year, the Festival is delighted to partner with the Brian Friel Trust - developers of the forthcoming Brian Friel Centre - to present a series of events in Glenties over the weekend of October 3rd – 5th, remembering Brian Friel on the 10th anniversary of his passing. Among the events to look forward to are an evening of readings from Friel’s work with Adrian Dunbar, Sinéad Cusack, Stephen Rea and Denis Conway, as well as a performance of the play Faith Healer, with popular Leitrim actor Seamus O’Rourke playing the part of faith healer, Francis Hardy. The festival is delighted to partner again with Erne Enterprise Development to present the hugely popular Carnival Parade in Ballyshannon, which will take place on the evening of Saturday, 11th October. Other programme highlights include the Donegal Voices Choir’s performances of Brahms’ Requiem in Ballyshannon and Glenties; Donegal Drama Circle’s highly anticipated production of Neil Simon’s comedy The Odd Couple (Female Version) at Leghowney Hall and two nights of theatre, music and storytelling in Donegal Castle with Eithne Ní Ghallchobhair, Steve Cooney, Dermot Byrne, Maura Logue and Marianne Fahey. Full Programme Information will be available on the festival website www.donegalbaybluestacks.ie and on the Donegal County Council website.

Working Over By Exhibition

As part of the implementation of the County Donegal Heritage Plan, the Culture Division of Donegal County Council in partnership with the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies will be launching a travelling version of the ‘Working Over By: Donegal Emigrant Working Lives in Scotland 1940-1990’ exhibition in the Glasgow City Archives, The Mitchell Library, Glasgow on Tuesday 23rd September. Donegal Diaspora Ambassador Packie Bonner will launch the exhibition. The main ‘Working Over By’ exhibition will run in the County Museum, Letterkenny until January 2026 and will be supplemented by a series of presentations and living history performances.

Glasgow Corporation Transport & The Donegal Connection

A free 40-page booklet entitled ‘Glasgow Corporation Transport & The Donegal Connection’ by historian, journalist and author Hugh Dougherty will be launched in the Donegal County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny on Wednesday, October 1st at 7 p.m. The booklet tells the story of Donegal men and women who worked on Glasgow Corporation Transport buses, trams, trolleybuses and subway. The booklet will be the sixth publication in the Donegal Heritage Series published by the County Donegal Heritage Office with funding from The Heritage Council and Donegal County Council.

Heritage Week in County Donegal

National Heritage Week took place from Saturday, August 16th to Sunday 24th August and was a tremendous success with over 120 events taking place in County Donegal. The Culture Division of Donegal County Council organised or hosted over 20 events. National Heritage Week is coordinated by The Heritage Council and Local Authority Heritage Officers. Events shortlisted for the National Heritage Week Awards will be announced shortly. The National Heritage Week Awards will take place in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin on Friday, 17th October.

The Laurels, Glenties Historic Towns Initiative

In partnership with the Brian Friel Trust, conservation and restoration works have begun to the interior of The Laurels (playwright Brian Friel’s mother’s home in Glenties), service provision at the site and the implementation of the landscape management plan. The Laurels is a Protected Structure of national significance. The Laurels - Glenties Historic Towns Initiative 2025 is part-funded by The Heritage Council, Donegal County Council and the Brian Friel Trust.

Ballyshannon Historic Towns Atlas

The Royal Irish Academy in partnership with the Culture Division of Donegal County Council will launch the Irish Historic Towns Atlas for Ballyshannon in the Abbey Arts Centre on Thursday, 9th October. It will include a presentation by Dr. Angela Byrne, author of the atlas. The Irish Historic Towns Atlas is part of a European project on historic towns that facilitates comparative urban studies. Ballyshannon is the only town in County Donegal that meets the pre-requisite criteria. Thirty-one towns in Ireland have been published so far and each atlas comprises a variety of maps, an essay explaining the historical development of the town, and a body of classified topographical information covering the urban area as a whole and its component parts.

Biodiversity Office

Biodiversity

Office events for National Heritage Week

Donegal County Council Biodiversity Office teamed up with some fantastic environmental educators during National Heritage Week to learn about the building blocks of biodiversity across Donegal! From Bee Identification to Explore Your Shore workshops, a woodland wander to a Really Wild quiz for kids, there was plenty to choose from. Workshops were funded by Donegal County Council with funding support from the Heritage Council through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund and through NPWS’s Local Biodiversity Action Fund 2025.

4. Economic Development, I.S. & Emergency Services

Fire Service

Operations

Incident Activity

The number of incidents in the county and the fire brigade mobilisation activity for July and August 2025 are detailed in Table 1 below. The data is provisional with no data available for NIFRS.

July and August 2025

Activity Number

Incidents in County Donegal 156

Mobilisations (By Donegal Brigades) 229

Mobilisations into Donegal by NIFRS No Data Available

Table 1 - Operational Data for July and August 2025

Training

Members of the Service attended the following out of County training courses during July and August 2025:



1 No. member of the Service attended a two-Week Breathing Apparatus (BA) Instructor Course at Tullamore Fire Station, Co. Offaly.

 12 No. members of the Service attended a one-week QQI – Using BA (Compartment Fire Behaviour) Courses at Tubbercurry Fire Station, Co. Sligo. 4 No. Donegal County Fire Service Instructors provided training on this course.

 2 No. members of the Service attended a three-week QQI Firefighting Skills Course at Sligo Fire Station, Co. Sligo.

 2 No. members of the Service attended a two-week QQI Using BA (Breathing Apparatus) Initial Course at Tullamore Fire Training Centre, Co. Offaly.

 2 No. members of the Service attended a two-week QQI Using BA (Breathing Apparatus) Initial Course at Sligo Fire Station, Co. Sligo. 1 No. Donegal County Fire Service Instructor provided training on this course.

 1 No. member of the Service attended a one-week QQI - Transport Incidents Course at Sligo Fire Station, Co. Sligo. 1 No. Donegal County Fire Service Instructor provided training on this course.

Members of the Service attended the following in County training courses during July and August 2025:

 2 No. members of the Service attended a 5-day Emergency Service Driving Standard Practical Driving Courses. 1 No. Donegal County Fire Service Instructor provided training on this course.

 1 No. member of the Service attended a half-day Emergency Service Driving Standard Practical Driving (Refresher) Course. 1 No. Donegal County Fire Service Instructor provided training on this course.

 3 No. members of the Service attended a half-day Emergency Service Driving Standard Practical (Initial) Driving Test.

 12 No. members of the Service attended a 5-day QQI Transport Incidents Course at Dungloe Fire Station. 3 No. Donegal County Fire Service instructors provided training on this course.

Fire Prevention

Statutory Fire Safety

Table 2 below shows the number of valid Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) applications received and the number of applications granted for each of the two-month periods from September 2024 to August 2025, both months inclusive.

Table 2 - twelve months summary of FSC’s received and decisions made.

At the end of August 2025, 52 FSC applications were waiting to be assessed, while 58 FSC applications were waiting for further information from the applicants Technical Agent.

Table 3 below sets out the type and frequency of other activities that the Fire Prevention Section was involved during July and August 2025.

July and August 2025

Form of notice received under the Explosives Act, 1875

Inspections and Auditing carried out (Fire Services Act 1981 & 2003, Annual Licensing, DSA 1972, Explosive Stores, Pyrotechnics, BCA 1992 & 2007)

Table 3 – Fire Prevention Activity Data for July and August 2025 (Excludes FSC’s)

* As part of its community fire safety programme, Donegal Fire Authority delivered a total of 16 No. fire safety talks/presentations and also completed 6 No. home fire safety visits.

Major Emergency Management

Exercise Lima 2025 – Donegal Airport

An inter-agency tabletop exercise organised by Donegal Airport was held on the 19th of August 2025. The exercise simulated an emergency response to a lithium battery fire on board a passenger aircraft.

The live exercise was attended by the two Donegal County Fire Service Station Officers and Donegal County Council’s Major Emergency Management Officer. The exercise tested the process for alerting and activating the Principal Response Agencies to an incident on or in the environs of Donegal Airport.

Information Management Training Course

A one-day training course for new Information Managers was held on the 24 th of July, in the Great Northern Hotel, Bundoran.

The purpose of the course was to train new Information Management Officers for key roles in Donegal County Council’s Major Emergency Plan.

Information Systems

eGovernment Award Finalist

Donegal County Council was shortlisted as a finalist in the Local Government Award category of the national eGovernment Awards for the CoPower Project.

This pilot project is co-funded under the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme (2021–2027). The goal is to develop a community-based Virtual Power Plant (VPP) that addresses energy challenges in peripheral regions—such as affordability, reliability, and efficiency—caused by low population density, harsh climates, and over-reliance on fossil fuels.

The Virtual Power Plant will provide Donegal County Council with the opportunity to leverage demand response to balance supply and demand of our electricity at our implementation site (Lifford Old Barracks). We are now in the implementation phase and hope to be able to demonstrate positive results in the coming months and show how

this can be adapted and adopted for other buildings. Being shortlisted as a finalist is an endorsement of the innovative nature of the project and showcases the value of collaboration both within the Council and via the ERNACT project partnership. For more information, please see CoPower | Donegal County Council

Digital Maturity Assessment

Information Systems completed the LORDIMAS Digital Maturity Assessment, designed to evaluate the digital maturity of local and regional public administrations across Europe and partner countries.

This initial assessment resulted in an overall score of 34/100 giving us a maturity status of Digitally Emerging compiled from scores across Governance, Service Design, Data Management, Interoperability, Service Delivery, Technology and Networking. On an individual domain level, we were Digitally Purposeful in Networking which reflects our successful participation in EU projects via ERNACT.

This initial assessment acts as a benchmarking exercise with a view to building on our strengths and integrating improvement actions to enhance digital transformation alignment with the Council’s Corporate Plan and national strategies.

Donegal County Council are one of a five Local Authorities in Ireland to have completed an assessment along with Limerick City & County Council, Cork City Council, Offaly County Council and Waterford City & County Council. The Southern Regional Assembly has also participated.

Economic Development Division

National AI Challenge

The ALPHA Innovation Centre in Letterkenny played a significant role in the National AI Challenge 2025, a nationwide hackathon supported by Google Cloud, OpenAI, and government departments. The Challenge brought together 500+ participants across 10 regional hubs, providing teams with advanced AI tools, mentoring, and investor access.

Donegal emerged as one of the most active and successful hubs. Over the summer, ALPHA co-built four AI-powered teams (28 participants), with 50% female founders and many new to technical innovation. Importantly, the hub attracted participants from outside the county, with 28 individuals from Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Sligo choosing to base their projects in Donegal. One participating team represented Tata Consulting Services (TCS), a major FDI employer in the region.

The competition results underline this success. Of the 15 winning teams nationally advancing to the finals in Galway on 18 September, three originated from the Donegal hub — representing 20% of all finalists. An additional ALPHA alumnus team was successful at Enterprise Ireland HQ.

This performance demonstrates ALPHA’s ability to attract talent, deliver disproportionate national impact, and strengthen Donegal’s profile as a centre of innovation. It also reflects the leadership role of Kevin Sexton, CEO of ALPHA, a member of the National Steering Group guiding the Challenge at national level.

TBEX Doneal 2025

TBEX, the World Travel Blogger Exchange was hosted by Donegal County Council in association with Donegal Tourism CLG in County Donegal from 9th to 12th September 2025. The event, which attracted over 400 international travel creators, proved to be a significant success, delivering substantial benefits across economic, promotional, and strategic tourism sectors. The conference has successfully elevated Donegal's global profile and laid a strong foundation for future tourism growth.

There were 30 fully booked prebex tours that took place on 9th and 10th September visiting locations in every Municipal District such as Sliabh Liag, Fanad Head, Wild Alpaca Way, Crolly Distillery, Oideas Gael, Glen Folk Village, Glenveagh, Rossnowlagh, Donegal Town, Ballyshannon, Ardara Distillery among many others. There were evening events hosted at Rockhill House Estate, Wild Ireland and Oakfield Park. The plenary conference was held in the ATU on 11th and 12th September.

The success of TBEX was made possible by strong collaboration across the county. TBEX received significant support from tourism businesses, transport companies, Chambers of Commerce and local communities. Organisations such as the ATU, LEO Food Coast, Udarás na Gaeltachta, Fáilte Ireland along with other counties such as Leitrim and Sligo, some of which hosted their own fam trips.

Donegal County Council elected members were also very supportive of TBEX and attended many of the events and the plenary conference, in particular our Cathaoirleach Cllr. Paul Canning who welcomed delegates to Donegal at several events.

#LoveDonegal Day took place on 10th September and this provided additional exposure reaching a large audience online and boosting our reach internationally. The presence of over 400 attendees from across the globe, staying for an average of four days, injected a significant economic stimulus directly into the local

economy. A survey of all attendees showed the average bed nights in Letterkenny and surrounding areas to be 9 days. There was increased spending on dining, retail, and local services and economic benefits for local transport, including bus tours for pre-bex tours, familiarisation trips and local taxis.

The most significant benefit of the TBEX conference is its immeasurable promotional value. By hosting the world's largest gathering of travel creators, Donegal has secured unparalleled global exposure. The key outcomes include:

 Global Reach: Content creators with a combined audience of millions have produced and shared blog posts, videos, social media content, and photographs showcasing Donegal's unique attractions. This reach is a testament to the power of influencer marketing and far exceeds what traditional advertising campaigns could achieve.

 Authentic Storytelling: The pre-conference familiarisation pre-bex trips, which included activities such as historical tours, sea adventures, and cultural workshops (including guitar-making and Irish language sessions), allowed creators to capture authentic, first-hand experiences. This content is more compelling and trustworthy to prospective travellers than standard marketing materials.

 Showcasing Diverse Assets: The event provided a dedicated spotlight on Donegal's rich and diverse tourism offering, including its dramatic coastline, vibrant cultural heritage, and world-class hospitality, reinforcing its position as a "must-visit" destination.

Strategic Tourism

Impact

Hosting TBEX aligns with and actively supports Donegal County Council’s longterm tourism strategy. The event has:

 Endorsed Donegal as a Premier Destination: The decision by TBEX to host its conference in Donegal is a strong endorsement of the county's reputation, building on accolades like the Lonely Planet award.

 Collaboration: The event brought together various stakeholders—Donegal County Council, Donegal Tourism CLG, local businesses, and community groups—to deliver a world-class experience, strengthening a collaborative approach to tourism development.

 Created a Legacy of Content: The body of work created by the attendees will continue to promote Donegal for years to come, providing a lasting digital asset that will attract future visitors.

The TBEX Europe conference in September 2025 was an outstanding success for County Donegal. Beyond the direct economic injection, the event delivered an invaluable marketing return on investment, securing global promotional exposure and positioning the county as a leading international tourism destination. The Council's Tourism Unit will leverage this success by continuing to engage with the travel creator community and using the created content to inform future marketing campaigns, ensuring a lasting return on this significant investment.

Nighttime Economy Action Plan Launch

The launch of the NTE Action Plan took place in Buncrana library on Monday 8th September. The Buncrana Night-Time Economy Action Plan 2025–2026 has been officially launched at Buncrana Library, marking a major milestone in enhancing Buncrana’s after-dark culture, community, and economy.

Developed by Donegal County Council in line with the national Night-Time Economy Taskforce Report, the Action Plan sets out a framework across five key pillars: Governance & Sustainability, Transport & Access, Placemaking & Public Realm, Safety & Security, and Activation & Engagement. The plan aims to strengthen local business, improve safety, enhance public spaces, and expand cultural and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors after 6pm.

The launch event featured contributions from John G. McLaughlin, Chief Executive of Donegal County Council, and Cllr Paul Canning, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council. Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, delivered a keynote address. The evening also included comedy from Joseph P. Carlin, music by Songbird Sessions, and a performance from Donegal Youth Service. The plan will now guide delivery through 2025–2026, with a dedicated steering committee, national partners, and the Night-Time Economy Advisor working alongside the community to bring the vision to life.

#LoveDonegal Day

The #LoveDonegalDay social media campaign invites Donegal natives and supporters worldwide to share their love for the county using the hashtags #LoveDonegal and #DúnnanGallAbú. #LoveDonegal is a special day on the calendar, bringing together people with a connection to our beautiful county from all corners of the globe to celebrate their affection for Donegal.

Posts are coming in from across the world, with the highest engagement from Ireland, the UK, Germany, India, the USA, South Africa, Australia, and Canada.

The 2025 campaign has achieved a global reach of 109 million, extending to 146.7 million over the weekend.

London Vintage Day

The economic Development Team of Donegal County Council was delighted to once again attend the London Irish Vintage Club Day 2025, engaging with our vibrant diaspora community in London. Leas-Cathaoirleach Cllr. Donal Mandy Kelly, Director of Economic Development Garry Martin and Diaspora Officer Eoin Leonard represented Donegal at the event.

At our Economic Development pop-up stand, 80 new sign-ups were secured for the Donegal.ie newsletters, helping us share all that’s happening in the county. The day showcased #LoveDonegal, #BuyDonegal, Disrupt by the Sea and the Tip

O’Neill Irish Diaspora Awards, while Cllr. Kelly drew the winner of our prize of flights and hotel stay”

Local Enterprise Office

The Local Enterprise Office of Donegal County Council continues to be a key driver of local economic development, supporting small and micro enterprises across the county. Throughout the last three months, Local Enterprise Office Donegal has remained focused on fostering innovation, sustainability, and export growth, while delivering targeted supports that contribute to business resilience and job creation throughout the region.

Progress Against Targets

The following table illustrates LEO Donegal’s progress against targets for the first 8 months of 2025.

Local Enterprise Office Donegal continues to provide essential financial support to growing businesses across the county. So far this year, 22 businesses have been approved for grant aid totaling over €400,000.00. These grants help eligible businesses with capital investment, employment creation, and innovation development. LEO Donegal remains focused on fostering innovation, sustainability, and export growth, while delivering targeted supports that contribute to business resilience and job creation throughout the region.

Female entrepreneurship is being actively supported through the Ambition Programme, which began on 2nd September with a record 17 participants. This 12-week initiative is tailored for female founders who are ready to scale their businesses and accelerate growth. In addition, LEO Donegal will host National Women’s Enterprise Day on 16th October at the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny. As Ireland’s largest event dedicated to female entrepreneurship, it will feature a strong line-up of speakers, panel discussions, and networking opportunities to inspire and inform women in business.

Digital for Business

Support for digital transformation remains a key focus. In 2025, 38 businesses were approved for the Trading Online Voucher scheme, to help them establish or improve their online presence. While this scheme has now closed to new applicants, it has been successfully replaced by two new initiatives: Digital for Business and Grow Digital. Under the new Digital for Business scheme, 26 businesses have been approved for supports, enabling them to embrace digital tools that improve competitiveness and streamline operations.

Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards

Donegal’s food sector is also gaining national recognition, with a record 14 local producers named as finalists in the 2025 Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards. These awards are the largest blind-tasted food awards on the island of Ireland and highlight the diversity and quality of local food businesses. Finalists this year range from long-established brands to emerging artisan producers, reflecting the growing strength of the county’s food sector. The winners will be announced on 3rd October in Dingle.

SuperValu Food Academy

Food and drink producers in Donegal continue to thrive with strong engagement in national supports. Two local businesses have been accepted onto the 2025/26 SuperValu Food Academy, a highly competitive programme that provides training, mentorship, and the opportunity to trial products in SuperValu stores nationwide. Separately, six early-stage food businesses from the county have applied for the upcoming Food Starter Programme, beginning on 19th September. This programme is designed to support those at the concept or early start-up phase of a food or drink manufacturing business, giving participants the foundational knowledge needed to bring their products to market.

Business Support Clinics

LEO Donegal’s Business Support Clinics continue to offer accessible advice and information across the county. Held twice monthly, both online and in-person, these clinics provide an opportunity for individuals to learn about LEO supports and receive one-to-one business advice. In August, a virtual clinic was held on the 15th, followed by an in-person session on the 29th at The Enterprise Centre in Letterkenny. Upcoming clinics include a virtual session on 12th September and an inperson event on 26th September in the Public Services Centre, Donegal Town.

Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) programme, delivered by LEO Donegal on behalf of the national LEO Network, continues to support internationalisation, digitalisation, and sustainability among local SMEs. Since July 2023, the current EEN programme has delivered 29 regional events, 8 international missions, and supported the development of structured client pathways using tailored action plans and cooperation profiles.

5. Roads & Transportation

s National Roads Office Update

N56 Glenties to Kilraine Project Phase 2

This scheme extends from south of Glenties Town to the Kilraine Bridge just beyond the junction of the N56 and R262. The construction contract was awarded to Fox Building and Engineering Ltd. (FBEL). Works commenced in September 2024, the contract is within budget and the Certificate of Substantial Completion is expected late September 2025.

N56 Letterkenny Traffic Management and Active Travel Project –Polestar to Creamery Roundabout

Works between the Ballyraine Roundabout and the Creamery Roundabout (including lane re-configuration of the new signalized Ballyraine Junction) are currently being progressed to construction. The proposed construction contract is now at post-tender / pre-appointment stage. The successful contractor will be appointed towards the end of October, subject to satisfactory submission of preappointment documentation. The successful Site Supervision Team will be appointed before the end of September, subject to satisfactory submission of preappointment documentation. Works are currently programmed to commence onsite in early November 2025.

Separately but related, further design options for traffic congestion relief at the N56 Ramelton road leg of the Pole Star roundabout are being considered currently also.

Pavement Asset Repair and Renewal (PARR) 2025

The 4.3km long N13 Lurgybrack to Listillion Pavement Strengthening Contract was completed between June and September 2025, at a total construction cost of €2.46 million, this was the only PARR Contract funded by TII in Donegal this year.

The HD 28 Skid Resistance Restoration & Improvement Contract is currently onsite, this contract involves replacing the existing road surface course at 4

locations on the National Road Network in Donegal, as follows.

 N13 Drumkeen (700m)

 N56 Kilmacrennan at Lough Salt Junction (400m)

 N15 Lough Mourne –Construction of Hard Shoulder (100m)

 N15 Ballybofey-Stranorlar Railway Road junction to Ballybofey side of Finn Bridge (200m)

Works commenced at N15 Drumkeen on Monday 15th September, with all above HD28 Sites currently programmed for completion in the sequence outlined above by the end of October 2025.

Barnesmore Gap Greenway Outline Program

The Barnesmore Gap Greenway project is currently progressing through Phase 3 (Design and Environmental Evaluation). The alignment design is substantially complete and the remaining design elements and environmental assessments are continuing. Extensive consultation with landowners and other stakeholders has been ongoing throughout this process and will continue as the project progresses. Phase 3 is expected to be completed in Q1 2026 with Phase 4 (Statutory Process) expected to commence in Q2 2026 (pending the required approvals). The earliest Construction start is expected to be in 2028 but this is subject to change and pending the required approvals.

TEN-T Priority Route Improvement Donegal

Final preparations for publication of the EIAR and CPO of the TEN-T are ongoing. Most recently completed actions include; a penultimate preapplication consultation meeting with An Coimisiún Pleanála; legal review including assessment of issues arising out of the recent A5 WTC decision and Judicial Review (Slane) by Senior Counsel and legal advisors; additional survey and survey updates by our consultants. Final stage preparation of the documents by our Consultant team is ongoing. Publication is still expected before the end of 2025 subject to any other critical matters or issues arising.

A5 Western Transport Corridor and Access to the Northwest

Following the Planning Appeals Commission’s Report in respect to the A5 WTC, the NI Assembly Minister announced in October 2024 the intention to proceed with construction of the first stretch of the A5WTC. This would deliver 55kms/34 miles of the A5WTC between Strabane and Ballygawley.

In November 2024, the DfI was served with legal proceedings challenging the authorisation of the A5WTC. The case was listed for a full hearing, and commenced on the 18 March 2025. On the 23 June, the High Court judgement upheld three of the grounds within the legal challenge. The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has formally served a Notice of Appeal against the High Court judgement.

Previous funding commitments and general support by all Government Departments remains vitally important to allow the A5WTC to advance. In relation to the section between New Buildings and Sion Mills, development work is continuing around finding solutions to the PAC’s recommendations on flooding impacts, including consultation with various key stakeholders to understand constraints, not least the NRO in Donegal County Council and the Office of Public Works (OPW). An initial meeting has also been held between DfI and DoT officials in relation to the new cross border working group on the continued development the N2, Clontibret to the border and A5WTC Phase 3 (Ballygawley to border).

Roads Areas Update

Restoration Improvement and Restoration Maintenance

Restoration Improvement and Restoration Maintenance programmes are coming to an end, with Areas traditionally now redirecting to other programmes such as Local Improvements Schemes, Community Involvement Schemes and various Capital works. In the course of the Restoration Improvement programme, approximately 125 bitmac contracts have been awarded to surfacing contractors.

As part of a mid-year funding review, the Department of Transport were in a position to re-distribute some funding to the RI programme nationally, and in September of this year, Donegal County Council confirmed our ability to carry out an additionally offered €660k of funding under the Restoration Improvement programme. To this end, Donegal County Council are currently in the various stages of finalizing programmes of works with Elected Members across the MD’s with come schemes having commenced on the ground.

Local Improvement Scheme – Additional Funding Received

Subsequent to the initial allocation of €1,123,479 from the Dept of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for the implementation of Local Improvement Schemes in Donegal back in May, more recently the Dept have announced in August, an additional allocation of €1,268,698 bringing the total

allocation for Donegal in 2025 to €2,392,177. This is inclusive of a €100k public amenity LIS for Tory Island.

The Local Improvement Scheme is designed to support the continued improvement of non-public roads in rural communities and improves access to rural homes and farms, as well as outdoor amenities such as our lakes, rivers, mountains and beaches.

These roads and laneways are not maintained by Donegal County Council on a normal basis, however they represent a vital piece of infrastructure for rural residents. The allocation of additional funding to Donegal is based on Donegal’s proven record in delivering on previously allocated LIS funding. The agreed programme of works has been submitted to the DRCD&G with works on site to commence imminently.

TII Emergency Pavement Scheme

DCC have appointed a contractor for the placement of the 19+ ‘patches’ that the TII have agreed to fund under the Emergency Pavement Schemes programme on the N13 and N15 to the value of €591,245. Works have commenced on site in relation to this programme.

Interim

Agreement on Road Openings by Uisce Éireann to 30th June 2026

Donegal County Council, like all 30 other Local Authorities, has signed an interim agreement with Uisce Éireann to deal with road openings for Asset Operations activities in advance of a move to a fully licensed approach for road openings from 30th June 2026. DCC are working closely with UÉ in relation to the smooth transition to Agreement arrangements following its full adoption by UÉ.

Winter Maintenance

Preparation arrangements have been made for the implementation of the 2025-26 Winter Maintenance gritting season, which this year, runs from the Monday 13th October 2025 to 26th April 2026.

ROBUST – Electric shaRed mOBility hUbS Trail

Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Atlantic Technological University (ATU), ESB, and Enterprise Car Club have partnered with four local authorities to deliver e-mobility hubs in Letterkenny, Waterford, Galway City and Dundrum, Co. Dublin. The eHub in Letterkenny, at Justice Walsh Road, was launched on Friday 5th September by Minister Charlie McConalogue and An Cathaoirleach Cllr. Paul Canning.

Each eHub has two shared electric vehicles (EVs), one e-cargo bike and four ebikes which are available to book by the public for an hour or by the day to suit a range of travel needs. The project is funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the SEAI Research, Development & Demonstration Funding Programme, the academic lead partner is Trinity College Dublin supported by ATU academics in the Galway and Sligo campuses.

The eHubs are part of a wider strategy in Ireland to encourage public use of shared transport, help reduce congestion and parking problems in our cities and towns and meet emission targets. Shared mobility is increasingly recognised as a practical solution to the challenges posed by urban development and climate and

environmental concerns.

The eHub sites will allow people to select the most suitable mode of transport for their needs, aiming to provide a range of shared public travel options. By providing alternative solutions, it will help to encourage people to try different mobility options.

For more information or to download the relevant app visit the following links.

iOS App for eBikes : https://apps.apple.com/us/app/esb-ehubs/id1612495746

Android App for eBikes : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details? id=com.sharebike.android.esb&hl=en

Enterprise Car Hire : https://www.enterprisecarclub.ie/ESBHub

John G. McLaughlin Chief Executive