Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I have to admit was first raised with me by Councillor Martin Farren, and subsequently by a number of people. While I fully appreciate and acknowledge the difficult and distressing situations that householders have to deal with when faced with the consequences of the use of defective materials or poor workmanship in homes, building defects are, in general, matters for resolution between the contracting parties involved, that is, the owner, the builder, the manufacturer, the supplier, the quarry owner and-or their respective insurers. In addition and where appropriate, affected home owners should pursue their structural guarantee insurance providers where a structural guarantee insurance is in place.

In the event that the contracting parties cannot reach a settlement by negotiation the option of seeking redress in the courts can be considered. My understanding is that legal proceedings are under way and have been instigated in some of the cases relating to the problems in Donegal, which is the appropriate course of action to take in the event that the responsible parties do not face up to their responsibilities and provide a solution to the affected home owners for whom I have a huge degree of sympathy.

Notwithstanding that, my Department is prepared to review any information that can be made available in these matters, for example, test-laboratory reports on the concrete blocks, structural reports on the affected dwellings etc., and there is a range of other issues also. Having regard to such information, it may be in a position to offer advice which may be of assistance to affected home owners in seeking a resolution to their difficulties. In that regard, a meeting has been arranged between my Department and a delegation of affected home owners. In fact, it actually happened yesterday.

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