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THE GOVERNMENT HAS said the support package being prepared for families affected by the mica crisis will be “one of the largest ever” but is “unlikely” to be ready before the Budget.
Last week, a report into homes affected by defective mica blocs found that a remediation scheme for impacted property owners could cost up to €3.2 billion.
The report is set to be examined by the Housing Minister before a proposal is brought to Cabinet for approval.
Speaking during Leaders’ Questions today, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said that this will happen “in the coming weeks” but not before next week’s Budget.
“We have gone through a process here as a government, many ministers have visited Donegal and indeed other counties that are impacted by mica and believe that the Housing Minister is taking this incredibly seriously,” he said today.
I think that the financial package that will be put together by and approved by government in time will be one of the largest financial support packages ever announced in relation to anything. So we need to get it right.
He added: “My understanding is that it’s probably a few weeks away yet but I can assure you that this is something that the government has committed to dealing with head on, working with families and communities on and with opposition parties.”
Coveney was speaking in response to Independent Donegal TD Thomas Pringle, who criticised the report that was sent last week by the mica working group.
The working group included department officials, affected homeowners and local authority representatives but some of the homeowners have said their views were not adequately taken on board in the report.
The report itself puts forward a number of potential improvements “for consideration” by the government but does not formally recommended them.
Speaking about this, Pringle said the report should have included recommendations and that without them it was, “just another disingenuous, can-kicking exercise, disrespectful to my constituents in Donegal.”
The report did not put forward for consideration that affected homeowners who have to demolish and rebuild their homes get 100% compensation.
Pringle also criticised a letter sent by Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien to opposition spokespeople last night in which the minister said he wanted to “help form a political consensus on the matter involved”.
Pringle said it was “disingenuous bullshit” by the minister to send this letter because the government treated opposition suggestions “with belligerence and contempt” during the Covid-19 crisis.
Addressing this letter, Coveney said it was “a genuine effort to try to get all party consensus in terms of how we can provide a financial support package here for families involved.”
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Who produced the blocks and is their any acceptance of responsibility by them.
@Paul Cahoon: No there is not. They are not being held accountable.
@Paul Cahoon: it’s the state’s responsibility. Pay up. And quit the bollox talking about €500k houses – Donegal houses cheapest in the country.
Pyrite was 100% redressed quite rightly and so should the mica house holders.
@Peter McGlynn: why is it the state’s responsibility, seriously, I don’t understand why the taxpayer is caught for this?
@Tricia G: That article would sicken you. They’re about to cost the tax payer 3.2bn and they have the cheek to be worrying about their family business and it’s reputation? The law needs to be changed so they can be put out of business and stripped of every asset they have. Then lock them up.
@Sean McCarthy: because they like other states are held responsible for ensuring standards – that’s why we have ombudsmen.
It’s simple. The state was negligent in its duty.
@Paul Cahoon: Cassidys
@Peter McGlynn: I’d say the query where the materials came from and the place they bricks were manufactured were Negligent in its duty. But igore that and blame the state there’s a good lad.
@Peter McGlynn: Is the ordinary citizen on the hook everytime someone buys a lemon from Honest John’s Motors?
@Peter McGlynn: where do you think “the state” gets it money from? If “the state” pays up once again, where is the incentive for any builders or suppliers to do the right thing? With this latest round of panic building, we’ll be paying agin in 10 years time
The 3.2 billion will blow out to at least 8 billion, as per usual no one will be held accountable or sacked.
A drop in the ocean when compared to bank bailout – it’s the state’s responsibility. Pay up. And quit the bollox talking about €500k houses – Donegal houses cheapest in the country.
Pyrite was 100% redressed quite rightly and so should the mica house holders.
It’s only a fraction more costly than a children’s hospital.
@Peter McGlynn: agreed and in the vast majority of cases in relation to this ordinary families will benefit from this payout & in turn local economies. Its a win win situation.
@Peter McGlynn: If the houses are so cheap why are the campaigners saying that 40% of them will cost more than 350k to rebuild?
@Peter McGlynn: if the state keeps bailing out and not holding suppliers or developers responsible, then what incentive is there during the latest round of panic building for them to ensure quality? In 10 years time we will be paying for this lates crop of mistakes
@The next small thing: It surely depends on the value of the property based on last years LPT valuation.
@Tim Quigley: value of the property is not the same as the cost to build
@Elaine Phelan: Absolutely, at least that’s what my insurance premium is based on, why isn’t this covered by their insurance??
@Paddy Cullen AIWS: good question
Billions in redress will be paid out of our taxes because politicians from established political parties and a Regulatory arm of the public sector failed…yet again. Why do we tolerate so many duds in public life?
So who will be supply concrete blocks this time around?
According to Cassidy Bros website:
We manufacture a full range of quality concrete blocks which are CE marked and certified by the National Standards Authority Ireland (NSAI)
In the Republic of Ireland concrete blocks used for structural purposes under either the Building Regulations or Eurocode 6-Design Code for Masonry (EC 6 adopted as I.S. EN1996) must be Category 1 blocks which requires an AVCP system of 2+. The AVCP system 2+ ensures the integrity of the particular production control process and ours is audited by the independent Notified Body NSAI.
Mr Pringle must realise his hopes of re election depend on this as do several other politicians in Donegal. If they had woken up earlier and tackled the people that should have been held accountable for this, we would not be looking at a bill of at least E5bn. They may say it will only cost E3.2bn but when all cases are declared and the people who have to pay for shoddy apartment work it could be even higher. Politicians were asleep at the wheel and the misery they caused to these poor people is disgraceful.And now they have added the rest of us taxpayers to the their list.The second worst thing about this, apart from the people living in these houses, is that nobody will be held accountable and no politician will accept any liability.
Exactly as Thomas Pringle said, kicking the can down the road. No truth in that he says whatsoever.
Absolutely there should be 100% redress for all affected, but please someone of some moral credibility in a position of influence keep an eye on who gets the contracts for the rebuild/repairs.
Would it be possible to now say that there is no chance of this happening again and that all state regulatory responsibilities in all sectors are being carried out to the fullest extent.
Only took 10 years of campaigning by the victims of government incompetence to achieve this. Do speak about it as some great achievement. Its what should have been done a long time ago. Classic FFG
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