‘Absolutely essential’ to pass defective concrete blocks laws in next fortnight

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn told Dáil Éireann it was “absolutely essential” that legislation on the defective concrete blocks saga be passed within the next two weeks. 

The Sinn Fein Donegal representative questioned the Minister for Public Expenditure and Infrastructure, Jack Chambers of Fianna Faíl, on the topic which has affected so many of Donegal homeowners.

The upcoming recess of Dáil Éireann was stressed by Deputy Mac Lochlainn as a reason for why the defective concrete blocks saga needed to be dealt with as soon as possible.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn said: “The victims of the pyrite scandal in the east coast of Ireland, comprising 3,000 families, rightly received 100% redress. In the west of Ireland, we did not get this.

“Worse, nine months ago, the Government looked at the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland rates and increased the cap, but this was for people who were new entrants. Hundreds of families are being denied more than €40,000. They cannot make the final payments to their builders.

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“This has been going on for nine months. The Government said it would sort it out nine months ago. Every week, I am told we will have the legislation.

“Will the Minister please promise us now, prior to the recess, that the legislation to allow for all homeowners in the scheme to avail of the increase in the cap, so they will have a fighting chance of at least making up something towards 100% redress.”

In response, Minister Chambers noted that he had met with representatives of action groups and council representatives in Donegal in May, and that he would ask the Minister for Housing, James Browne, to set out a “specific timeline relating to legislation and give Deputy Mac Lochlainn a specific answer to his question.”