Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for housing and the National Standards Authority of Ireland continue to say that there is no evidence that pyrrhotite is the cause of defective blocks in Donegal, not mica as it had been attributed to. In a response to an FOI request submitted by defective blocks campaigning groups in Donegal, it turns out that the Geological Survey of Ireland has, since December last, recognised pyrrhotite and says it is clear from the independent work done by each research partner that internal sulphate attack as a result of excessive pyrrhotite is the primary cause of the most serious damage seen within the affected properties across Donegal. This is from studies carried out by RSK, Petrolab and the Ulster University consortium, yet the Department does not acknowledge this and allows families to continue to be approved for partial remediation. Will the Taoiseach instruct the Department to use the up-to-date science when operating this scheme so that homeowners can get a result they can have faith in and have their homes repaired so they do not need to be examined again?

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