Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not blame the Government for what has happened in this case. It did not happen on this Government's watch but on the watch of a previous Government in recent years when there was a lack of regulations, control, checks and balances.

This is a serious issue. The reports I have from people living in the estate as to what is happening, the state of some of the houses, and the fact that a second explosion occurred within a short time after the previous one indicates that there is something seriously wrong in the estate. The gap is so big one can see underneath the houses, and it is clear the ground is sinking. It is built on a swamp.

That brings me to another issue. The HSE rented a field beside this estate and put a new primary care centre, which nobody disputes is badly needed for the Longford area, in it. I cannot understand how that got past the planners, the inspectors and all the different regulations because this is only a recent event. It is a mile from the town. There is no proper public transport. How this site was chosen baffles me but someone must answer for that.

Studies have been done on the prolonged effects of the gases that have been identified, and there are monitors in these houses. They have serious effects. That is the reason we are getting reports of people suffering from nausea and headaches, and it is the reason there is an increase in illnesses. Doctors locally have verified that a higher proportion of people are sick in that estate than elsewhere.

I am aware there is a court case going on but when everything else fails, the Government must come forward and sort out these problems. That is what I am asking the Minister to do. When that court case and a number of other issues are settled, this matter will end up back in the Minister's lap and we will need action because the people in this estate cannot live in these conditions. The children are being put in serious danger. I plead with the Minister, when we get to the next stage, to take urgent action.

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