Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A NEW REDRESS scheme for homes damaged by mica is still not sufficient to meet the cost of rebuilding, a campaign group believes.
It is understood that a new government scheme would cover up to €138 per square foot for rebuilding homes affected by mica, with a total cap of €420,000.
In theory, the new scheme raises the government’s redress from 90% to 100%, but the Mica Action Group says it still falls short of adequately covering the costs incurred by homeowners.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland, campaigner Michael Doherty said that the government has known about the mica crisis “for ages, they’ve done nothing about it, a lot of taxpayer money is already wasted and homeowners have been left to carry the can”.
“The new enhanced scheme seems to have fallen on the same hurdles where it looks good at the headline level but when you delve down into the detail of it, it falls way short of the mark once again,” Doherty said.
“They’ve given the impression that homeowners up here can avail of up to €420,000 to remediate their homes. That’s not the case,” he said.
“There is a square foot cap which kicks in long before that and the average homeowners will find they’re in or around €40,000 short of the mark.
“Not the hundreds that they were before, but for most of these homeowners, €40,000 or €100,000 is irrelevant – the bottom line to them is they simply can’t afford it.”
Defective building blocks that contain excessive amounts of mica have caused damage to thousands of properties, especially in Co Donegal where an estimated 5,000 are affected.
Homes in Mayo, Sligo, Clare and Limerick have also been impacted as the damaged bricks cause walls to crumble.
Tens of thousands of protesters marched in Dublin last month to call for a 100% redress scheme.
Campaigners intend to march again if the government does not revisit its plan.
“We’re not leaving people behind,” Doherty said.
“If they can’t provide that and do the decent thing by the homeowner, we’re going to have to go back to the streets of Dublin, but it will be very very different,” he said.
“It has to be different this time and it’s going to be at a level not seen before.
“It’ll be a Christmas Dublin will never forget.
“We believe we have enough disaffected TDs at this stage that we can force change in government if it comes to that.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights? You mean the pro-Al Nusra Brit in Coventry that refuses to cite his sources, data and methadology?
@Cormac Ó Braonáin: the SOHR the shifted is stance over the course of the war as the rebels became more extreme, while initially supporting the FSA during he first few years of the war, the SOHR does not support the rebels any more. The SOHR clearly sided with the Kurds during last January’s Turkish led Operation Olive Branch (the Turkish and Syrian Rebel invasion of Kurdish region of Afrin of NW Syria). The SOHR released a lot of inaccurate news reports that supported the Kurdish YPG (false claims of Kurdish victories against the Syrian Rebels). A bit like Comical Ali, remember him?
Here’s the bomb attack (graphic), seems it was a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest…
US backed terrorists killed by US backed terrorists?
Divide and conquer.
@paul kelly: wtf?
@paul kelly:
The US government supported the Free Syrian Army, which was not an Islamic militant organisation.
ISIS hates the Western powers. therefore, the idea that the US government would support ISIS is absurd.
@Ciarán Masterson: As absurd as them supporting the Taliban and Al Quida?
@Ciarán Masterson: LOL – America have been supporting ISIS for years in Syria,
They like to play both sides of the coin, You genuinely have blinkers on and a childlike understanding of Americas role in all of this
@paul kelly: “US backed terrorists killed by US backed terrorists?”
Eh no, 9 civilians killed and about 20 injured, including children, when an ISIS suicide bomber blew himself up in a cafe. Here’s the bomb attack (graphic)
@paul kelly: If you’re referring to the Kurds, no. The YPG doesn’t do suicide bombings and nowhere in the Journal article does it say who was responsible. And in any case, it was mostly civilians that were killed.
US-backed soldier? Who makes this shyte up? The word is Mercenary
Even thought US is leaving Syria the economic sanctions and sanctions against any ships going to Syria…By both the EU and US…..Will keep the people of Syria impoverished for years….Unable to rebuild their country….
5 US soldiers killed according to Turkish leader Erdogan in his address, He is stating that it was an attack designed to keep the us in Syria, but he thinks it won`t affect the US withdrawal as it would mean a victory for Daesh.
have your say