Defective concrete block redress
Deputy Mac Lochlainn contrasted the new apartment defect scheme with weaker treatment for defective concrete block homeowners and demanded 100% redress. The Tánaiste said the mica legislation was comprehensive and urged moving ahead with remediation.
Yesterday the Government announced a multi-billion euro scheme for the victims of the cowboys who built defective apartments. The measures, such as 100% redress, victims being fully supported by the Housing Agency, financial assistance for those who already carried out work, remediation works based on up-to-date regulations and whole apartments being done, are all very welcome but there is a significant hurt, as the Tánaiste must be aware. In counties Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Clare and Limerick, people who live in defective concrete block homes have legislation that is not giving any of that. Will the Government urgently amend the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 to make sure all these schemes give the victims 100% redress and the same fairness and treatment by the State?
Comment on this
In fairness to the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, he has raised this with the relevant Minister, namely, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy O'Brien. It is almost equivalence. There is a small issue around retrospection, potentially, but I do not see an issue arising in the context of the regulations the Minister will be issuing in respect of mica. The agreement and the legislation for mica is very comprehensive. The real issue, as I am sure the Deputy will agree, is to get on with it now and try to get as many houses done as possible.
Comment on this
We need 100% redress for everybody.