Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I had planned to come in here and cautiously welcome the revisions made in the so-called enhanced mica redress scheme. However, having watched the press conference given by the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, I am shocked at what is emerging, as I was by the Taoiseach's response to an earlier question. It appeared on some levels that the Government had finally listened to the victims of its failures of oversight and regulation and intended legislating for that. However, we will have to keep a watching eye over that as well. There is a touch of the ghost of Christmas past here in that when the previous iteration was cobbled together just prior to the general election, it was sold by Government Deputies in County Donegal as being much more than it was. It appears to me that Donegal families are facing the same again, despite this morning's fanfare of leaks from the Cabinet. Many of the county's mica-affected homeowners are still not sure if they can see a Christmas future under the new scheme.

I have just spoken to members of the Mica Action Group, who confirmed that when the Minister spoke to them this morning, there was no mention of a split rate or sliding scale. He talked about the price per square foot and that was it. He stated today that the sliding scale will be €110 per square foot after the first 1,000 sq. ft. This means, as was outlined earlier, that for the average 2,300 sq. ft house in Donegal, there will be a deficit of €45,000 still to be met by the homeowner, which is almost 15% of the cost. It is not a 90:10 scheme and it was not going to be. I stated in my manifesto that I was opposed to the previous mica scheme because it was not adequate to meet the needs of homeowners, which has been proven right. I also responded to the Minister's request for submissions on the scheme on 11 August this year.

It is time for the Taoiseach to be honest that he is not delivering 100% redress. He can dress it up whatever way he wants but the mica-affected homeowners will not be hoodwinked again. I think there is going to be a real soul-searching on their part. Is the Taoiseach going to have a proper scheme that will compensate families properly, so that they do not have exorbitant costs to meet under the scheme?

It is not on; they cannot afford it. That is what is going to happen. Is the Taoiseach saying that the figures I quoted are wrong? Can he show where they are wrong?

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