Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I too commend Deputy Mac Lochlainn and Deputy Doherty for bringing forward this motion. It is timely and very important. I extend my solidarity to the people of County Donegal who came in such great numbers today and commend them for everything they have gone through to fight their corner.

It is clear the scheme in place is not fit for purpose. Deputy O'Reilly referenced how the experience of building, creating and investing in one's own home, full of hope and plans for the future, only to see that literally crumble around one is devastating. I do not know any of the people involved but I can see from the footage, and from speaking to people today, what it means to them. I know about the experience of living with pyrite from my own constituents in Meath East, particularly in areas like Ashbourne, Dunboyne and Dunshaughlin. They fought their own battle, took it to the High Court, failed there and went the political route so a scheme would be put in place for them. I am sure every one of them would say it must be a 100% scheme. The scheme must be fit for purpose. It is no addition if people cannot get on the first step of the ladder to it, if they cannot get access to it. I draw the comparison as well between the cost of the initial test, as it appears to be in County Donegal, versus the visual test for the pyrite scheme. The damage that is done is quite obvious.

To follow up on Deputy O'Reilly's points, there are a number of issues still outstanding with the pyrite scheme. From dealing with people in my own constituency, there are issues with estates where pyrite is only now becoming apparent after the deadline of December 2013. I know of one particular case where a lady encouraged her mother to buy the house next door for practical reasons, only for it to have pyrite and for them to have to appeal, and to go into the process is a difficulty. There is an issue with the caps on the rent, and the scheme in County Donegal must include that element of supporting the rent, but there is also a pressure to move out after the money is used. The concerns I am hearing from people on that is that they must almost take it or leave it, as far as the quality of the work done is concerned; they have no recourse in relation to it and find themselves in a difficult position.

There are, therefore, a number of elements that must be resolved with the pyrite scheme and I encourage the Minister to look at them. Deputy O'Reilly and others addressed the specific root cause of mica and pyrite all across the country. That is still there and must be addressed. I commend the motion and again thank the Deputies for bringing it forward.

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