Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure the Deputy that I have met these people already. I represent the Dublin West constituency, most of the homes in which were built in the past 20 or 30 years. Several developments were not built well and now need very significant investment in order that they might be brought up to standard. This is an issue of which I am very aware. It involves people who have bought properties which have not recovered as property prices have generally risen because they cannot be sold on. Many people are facing very large bills of €5,000, €15,000 or even more to repair the buildings in which they live.

On the pre-2014 builds, my previous answer outlined what is being done to stop this happening again. It is very much a legacy issue, part of the damage done to the country during the construction boom period. When it comes to pre-2014 builds, responsibility for any repairs should, in the first instance, fall on the builder or the company that developed the houses and buildings. Where that builder or development company no longer exists, ideally it should fall on groups such as HomeBond or insurers of constructions. I cannot remember the name of the second body involved at present. I am aware, however, that, after ten years, this responsibility runs out. If faults are not discovered within ten years, people can find themselves in a difficult position. That may be where the State can step in to help. However, I absolutely must say that, in the first instance, the cost should not fall on the general taxpayers and it should not fall on people's neighbours. The cost should fall on the developer first and the insurer second.

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