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

The Deputy asks a fair question. We told the mica action group when we last met in Donegal that we had a target of this July to start fixing houses. It looks now as if that will not happen until the autumn. I do not see any reason why we cannot work out all the procedures and start fixing houses then.

There have been a couple of meetings between Mayo and Donegal County Councils and officials from the Department since we announced the clarification. All sides have agreed to move this as quickly as we possibly can because, naturally, we all want to step in and start fixing houses. I see no reason why the procedures and all the rest of it cannot be put to bed in the weeks ahead and it will be for the Government then to give the final sign-off. We should be able to fix houses in the autumn. I put my hands up and admit that is a number of months later than we anticipated when I formally met the group in Donegal most recently. At that time, we were hoping to start work in June or July. It now looks like it will start in the autumn. Hopefully we will start then and we can move on.

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