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

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of mica in the Chamber today. It is an issue of real importance not just in Donegal, but in Mayo and other counties around Ireland. As the Deputy said, I have been in those homes and met with some of the people involved. Not only have I seen it with my own eyes, but I have felt it in my fingers when I touched those walls. One can see how easily they can break and crumble. I know the devastation it has caused people. I know how much personality, life and love people put into their homes. To see them fall apart, damaged and demolished must be heartbreaking.

The Government is committed to finding a solution to this. It has gone on for too long; the Deputy is correct in that. We came up with a solution we thought would work, which was the 90% scheme agreed by the last Government. For various reasons, the 90% did not turn out to be 90% because of other costs, including rent when people move out of their houses, engineering reports and such matters. I agree that we need to bring forward an enhanced scheme, a better scheme, than the one we put together under the last Government to deal with this issue. We are committed to doing that. I am told, so far, 513 homeowners have applied under the scheme for stage 1 and 382 have been approved. Some 37 have been subsequently approved for stage 2.

In response to the concerns expressed by homeowners culminating in the protest in July, a time-bound working group was established to consider all issues raised. The first meeting was on Wednesday 30 June, when the terms of reference were agreed to. The purpose of this group is to review and address any outstanding issues in relation to the operation of the scheme, including, grant caps, homeowner contributions, engineering and allowable costs. Meetings were held weekly until the end of July and the fifth full meeting took place on 27 July. At the request of the homeowner representatives, it was agreed to extend the timeframe of the working group from the end of July to the end of September, which is now approaching. While the working group did not officially meet during August, homeowner representatives continued to meet with the Department Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Housing Agency on particular items. The group is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department, and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, attended the first meeting. Unfortunately, Mayo homeowners have withdrawn from the working group but continue to liaise with the Donegal representatives who are still on the group. Efforts are ongoing to have the Mayo action group nominate new representatives.

The Department has also received requests from other counties to be included in the scheme. In those cases, the local authority has been charged with providing a list of defects being complained of, such as excessive mica or pyrite, and relate to the quantum. Counties include Sligo, Clare, Limerick and Tipperary. It is fair to say this issue has broadened to beyond Donegal and Mayo and includes many other parts of the country. A submission from Clare County Council has been received. That arrived in the Department at the end of July and is being reviewed.

The membership of the working group initially comprised of three homeowners from Donegal, who were nominated by the Donegal mica group; three homeowners from Mayo, from the Mayo and north Mayo pyrite groups; three officials from the Department Housing, Local Government and Heritage; one official from Donegal County Council; and an official from Mayo County Council. The Government's position is that we will provide whatever support we can to facilitate the working group to report back with its recommendation to the Minster with responsibility for housing by the end of this month. The Government will consider the recommendations from the working group following cross-Government input, in particular from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Attorney General's office. Dialogue continues with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, and Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland with regard to grants for energy upgrades. In addition, an exemption of the local property tax has been granted for homes impacted by defective concrete blocks. Section 18 of the finance Act provides that relief for six years.

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