Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)

Once again, the Government has waived pre-legislative scrutiny on the defective concrete Bill. On 14 June 2022, the Taoiseach said, we will get on with it. With that attitude, 205 homes have been partially built in Donegal; 579 have works ongoing and 43 homes have been completely abandoned. There are 3,000 applications, most of which are stuck, including mine. I have been stuck in this scheme for five years and cannot progress. I agreed with the Minister, Deputy Browne, that scrutiny on caps, rates and amendments would be waived if nobody was left behind but amendments have also been pushed through without public debate. We roll with the headlines; billions are being spent on a scheme that people cannot access because it is too hard and is worthless. It is all figures but nobody is getting on it. A sum of €1.4 million has been spent on a security hut but 43 taxpaying families have been abandoned. As Minister for Finance, will the Tánaiste include in the upcoming Bill the 43 homeowners and deliver side-by-side building for vulnerable families so that nobody is left behind?

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