Deputies Durkan, McConalogue, Eugene Murphy and Buckley are left over from yesterday. I call Deputy McConalogue, who is present.

I address this question to the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English. It is in respect of the lack of progress with a mica redress scheme. Approximately 5,000 homeowners have been affected by this issue of mica in concrete blocks in Donegal and Mayo. Those people are at their wits' end waiting on this scheme that the Government committed to introducing as part of the budget before Christmas. The Minister of State indicated last week that he hoped it might go before the Cabinet yesterday. I do not believe that happened. Will he outline, once and for all, the situation regarding this scheme and give a commitment on when it will come into effect? Will he also make it clear that this scheme will be 100% funded as happened with the pyrite redress scheme on the east coast? Homeowners cannot wait any longer and it is totally unfair that they are living in this situation.

We naturally want this scheme to be fully confirmed at Cabinet but the most important aspect was Cabinet agreement for the scheme to happen. That happened last September or October. All the groups involved know that it will take some time to put this scheme together. We moved quite fast on this in the past year and a half based on the expert report because we understand people need help fixing their homes. The Government is prepared to do that. It was hoped the scheme would go before the Cabinet this week but I understand it is on the agenda for the next meeting of the Cabinet and will be dealt with there. I am not at liberty to give details of a scheme until the Cabinet has agreed it. Deputy McConalogue will be aware of that and most people understand that is the process of Government decision-making as well.