Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this amendment from Deputy Nash. Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson, Deputy Ó Broin, has put forward similar proposals in terms of those who are impacted as a result of defects, which are concentrated around Dublin and urban areas. There is also the defective block issue, which we will discuss later when we talk about the levies. I will contain my comments to multi-unit developments and apartments in general.

A working group has been established, which has applied its own criteria in terms of defects. I welcome the amendment. Construction defects need to be better defined because it is not just about defective workmanship. The intention in this amendment relates to fire safety, water ingress, structural issues, and so on. As we consider all of this, we must look at how we deal with those who, through no fault of their own, with safety concerns for themselves and their family were forced to take out loans or borrow money to do repairs or patch-up jobs in their apartments.

This amendment calls for the provision of a report. It would be timely, if not overdue, that officials and Revenue examine what this means and how it could be applied. It is not something that will be straightforward because works would be carried out where receipts and proof would be difficult to obtain. I am not sure if there are past examples from which we can learn or some from other jurisdictions. A comprehensive report about this needs to be done.

There is an issue of fairness. These people and future Governments are and will be cleaning up the mess of the lack of regulation in this sector. The people who bought their homes or apartments, in Donegal or Dublin, should not be paying the price for the cowboy, cavalier attitude that was allowed to persist at the time of the Celtic tiger, which was pointed out to Government at the time. Therefore, it is within that rationale that the Government has a responsibility to step in as it allowed and facilitated this to happen.

As we look towards remediation for work that will be carried forward, I am sure there will be schemes there and hopefully it will be more straightforward and not as tortuous as the process we have for the defective blocks, which is still not adequate. We are still waiting for that scheme to be published one year after the Minister and Government promised it. Indeed, the Government forced us to rush through the legislation before the summer because there was such an urgency. Now we are in the mouth of Christmas and these poor families are waiting. What is happening is bloody ridiculous. It is absolute torture. I am not just talking about Donegal. It is impossible for anybody to understand families having to live in those houses. What is happening in Donegal is ridiculous. These houses are not safe and something will happen. It has been going on for far too long. On this issue there must be a scheme for those who have not had the defects addressed and for those who have. This is the intention behind Deputy Nash's amendment. We need to make sure there is some recourse for them also. Options being explored would be really good. I support Deputy Nash's amendment.