Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)

We were told time and time again that this is a 100% redress scheme but it is not. What we see before us again today is evidence of that. The scheme is not fit for purpose and the evidence is there for anyone to look at. Behind every fact, figure and departmental line lies a human story of families who suffer every day. They are families who wonder every time Met Éireann issues a warning if this is the day their house comes down.

Do Government Members really believe that €150,000 is enough to rebuild a home in rural Ireland, or in Clare? This is what the Government has decided people will get and that is before demolition, engineers and every other cost of this comes out of that inadequate scheme. Ordinary people who did nothing wrong are now being forced to borrow tens of thousands of euro just to make up for this Government's failed scheme.

These families never asked for this. They believed they were living in their dream homes, building dreams and memories but they are now living in nightmares. They were directly promised that no homeowner would be disadvantaged when transitioning from the initial scheme, but there are now at least 25 families in Clare already locked out of that increased grant. They are locked out by nothing but an arbitrary date, a date that creates inequity, division and despair. What about those in social housing who are expected to pay rent for houses crumbling down around them? People have faced barrier after barrier and all of it has been placed there by this Government. This is not 100% redress. The Government got this wrong and needs to fix it. All homeowners must be treated equally, with no arbitrary dates, no discrimination and no family left behind. 100% redress must mean 100% redress. We do not need slogans or spin, but real support. The people of Clare and other areas deserve fairness, not excuses. It is time for the Government to face reality and deliver a scheme that homeowners were promised and deserve.

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