Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for putting this Bill on the legislative agenda. It follows a very long delay, not one for which the Government or my party is responsible, although there was a slight delay in bringing the legislation before us.

This matter was first brought to my attention in 2007. In that year I had an unwelcome caller at my door to tell me that my estate, Drynam Hall in Swords, was very much affected. I learned that 12,500 houses - more than the 10,000 estimated by Deputy Barry Cowen - were affected to the extent that remediation was required. The previous Administration not only ignored this issue and the technical guidance document amendment suggested by the building control unit in Fingal County Council but it also even failed to acknowledge receipt of the letter I sent four times as Mayor of Fingal. I sent a letter four times to the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and on four occasions failed to even receive an acknowledgement from his office such was his level of interest and that of the Department in the issue. To suggest this is a very significant day, as Deputy Helen McEntee has done, is an understatement.

I pay a particular tribute to a great number of Deputies. My constituency colleague opposite and a great number of other colleagues across all parties have contributed significantly to this discussion in order to put in place a remediation process for the tens of thousands of s who, like me, are affected by this issue. I include Deputy Dessie Ellis and others in Sinn Féin and other parties. What has been achieved is not the legacy of one individual, although I should say in the presence of Deputy Helen McEntee that her late father, Shane McEntee, played a very significant role in bringing the Bill to the House. I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to him on a day close to his birthday than raising this issue in the Dáil and for Deputy Helen McEntee to speak to us today about it. I commend her for doing so.

Deputy Dessie Ellis spoke about dream homes crumbling. I had this experience, as I know the Deputys knows. In 2005, arguably at the peak of the boom, I bought my home for over €300,000 only to find that, by 2008, it was valueless. Owing to the actions of some of the developers and builders whom the Deputy acknowledged wished to do something about the issue rather than run away from it, as so many have and which is why the Bill is required in the first place, my home and thousands of others in Fingal, County Meath, County Louth and other areas have been subject to remediation.

As this is a Second Stage debate, I will use my time carefully. I am not speaking from notes but speak because I am an affected who has lived through the problem for the past eight years. I speak from the heart and on behalf of so many of my neighbours, friends, constituents and fellow citizens across Leinster who have been affected by this issue through no fault of their own. As Deputy Dessie Ellis correctly outlined, they bought a dream home or place where they could hang their hat, have a family, move on with their lives, pay off their mortgage and contribute to society, but, unfortunately, because of the greed and - I dare say - borderline corruption of others, so many have been left without recourse to justice. Developers have gone out of business and liquidators have been unable to provide any funding towards the remediation of houses across Leinster. Since many s have been left with absolutely no recourse to remediation, I acknowledge the Minister's suggestion that further funding will be made available next year and the year after for remediation schemes, acknowledging the great gaps in which one could put one's hand such as those described by Deputy Helen McEntee. I noted these gaps in my dwelling and they were evident in thousands of others.

I acknowledge the work of the Department, the Minister, in particular, and our deceased friend and colleague, the late Minister of State Shane McEntee. I acknowledge also the work of my colleagues opposite and many members of the Government parties who have contributed to the Bill which I commend to the House.

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