Donegal mica-affected buildings
Senator Flynn seeks a debate on mica-affected buildings in Donegal, warning that childcare and community facilities are unsafe and may collapse.
I stand once again to call for a debate on buildings in Donegal with mica-affected blocks. Every single day, I send my little girl Lacey to a crèche that could fall down at absolutely any point. This is not the fault of the childcare providers in Donegal. There are over 25 childcare providers in Donegal whose buildings are impacted by defective blocks. I am aware that Deputy Charles Ward has done a lot of work advocating 100% redress, but we are forgetting about the community organisations that are also impacted by the defective-concrete crisis. For health and safety reasons, we would not be expected to come into this Chamber if it were impacted by defective blocks. Why are parents expected to send their children to early-education facilities when something could happen at any time?
I will email the Leader a video that The Irish Times produced two weeks ago on some of the conditions our children have to face every single day. I invite the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Foley, and the Minister for housing to Donegal. I am sure Senator Boyle would work with me to go around to the affected facilities to see the chronic conditions we have to send our children into every single day. Enough is enough. Many parents in Donegal fear for their children in childcare services. To cut a long story short, I am not looking for a debate only. I will send the Leader the article and video by The Irish Times, which I am sure will absolutely shock him. The Minister for children, Deputy Foley, should go to Donegal because what the eyes do not see the heart does not feel. The same applies to the Minister for housing. They need to come up with a solution to make childcare facilities safe for our children and the workers.