Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The expert panel on concrete blocks has met on two occasions since it was established in early April. The panel has also visited the owners of nine affected homes during the second week of May in order to view at first hand the problems that have emerged in those homes. In addition, the panel held meetings with representatives from the Mica Action Group and with elected members and officials from Donegal County Council in order to seek additional information on the nature of the problems that have emerged in the blockwork of the affected homes.

It is intended that the panel will seek further meetings over the coming weeks with a broad range of stakeholders, other interested parties and elected representatives in order to assist them in their understanding of the nature of the problems facing affected home owners in both Donegal and Mayo. This will facilitate the gathering of information in order to complete their report in accordance with their terms of reference.

It is anticipated that the expert panel will require in the order of six months to complete its investigations and to submit its report on the matter. I will await the outcome of the panel’s report before considering what further actions may be required to assist the parties directly involved in reaching a satisfactory resolution to the problems that have emerged in Donegal and Mayo. That will probably bring us up to September or maybe October, to allow six months, as the panel was only formed in February.

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