Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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9. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when the investigation panel to examine the mica issue will be set up and functioning, its terms of reference and when it will report its findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44136/15]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Minister of State knows, many hundreds of householders are affected by crumbling houses and defects in the blocks used in those houses. When will the panel to investigate the issue relating to mica be set up and functioning? What are its terms of reference? Importantly, when will it report its findings? Could the Minister of State update the House and assure the many affected householders that this problem will be dealt with as promptly as possible according to a timeline?

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this because it is very serious and concerns me greatly. As the Deputy knows, I visited Donegal earlier this year with the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, and met the mica action group and many affected householders. I acknowledge their current distress.

While building defects are, in the first instance, matters for resolution between the relevant contracting parties, I recently announced my intention to establish an expert group to investigate the problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in both Donegal and Mayo to assist the parties directly affected in reaching a satisfactory resolution to their difficulties. The small group, which will have a strong technical background, will be set up to establish, in so far as it is possible, the number of affected dwellings in Donegal and Mayo, the root cause of the problems, and the technical solutions for remediation. In this regard, the expert group will have the following terms of reference: to identify, in so far as it is possible, the numbers of private dwellings which appear to be affected by defects in the blockwork in the counties of Donegal and Mayo; to carry out a desktop study, which would include a consultation process with affected homeowners, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals, testing laboratories, industry stakeholders and other relevant parties, to establish the nature of the problem in the affected dwellings; to outline a range of technical options for remediation and the means by which those technical options could be applied; and to submit a report by 31 May 2016.

Arrangements are now under way within my Department to identify a suitable chair for the expert group, and nominations will be sought shortly from a number of professional bodies for suitable persons to participate on the group. Once established, the expert group will decide upon the means by which it will carry out it investigations, including the means by which it will interact with affected homeowners on the issues concerned.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I welcome the announcement that an expert panel is to be established to ascertain what exactly is causing the cracks in the houses, assess what kinds of remedies might exist and establish the number of householders affected. I acknowledge that the Minister of State visited some of the houses that are affected in order to understand the impact of the problem at first hand and how it progresses, in addition to the impact on the many affected families.

Progress has been unduly slow in the context of reaching this point. It is two years since the issue first came to the attention of the Department. I have raised it in the Dáil several times with the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Kelly, and I emphasised the importance of setting up the expert panel. Doing so is the first step necessary if the issue is to be addressed. It is welcome, nonetheless, that this is now happening.

Is the Minister of State confident that a full report on the work of the expert panel will be completed by 21 May 2016? What is the position of the Government on redress for homeowners who may not be able to obtain assistance in any other way to address the problems with their homes?

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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It is important that the expert panel be constructed properly and have the expertise necessary to deal with and investigate the problem comprehensively. The Deputy will accept and agree with that. I expect the chairperson to have considerable experience in communications, negotiation and other fields relating to solving complex problems. This is a very complex problem in so far as it affects families. I have met the families and noted they are very distressed. We need to have a structural engineer and geologist, and possibly a standards expert, on the panel to identify the problem.

Although the Deputy might legitimately be critical of the delay in setting up the expert panel, he should note I have been engaging continuously on this matter since it was first brought to my attention. One of the first steps I took was to visit the affected houses to see them at first hand. I personally asked the Irish Concrete Federation and other bodies to determine whether they would mediate with some of the suppliers we believe were involved. Some progress was made in this regard initially but then everything just stopped, unfortunately, and there was no further progress. There were efforts to assist in the normal way through mediation and other means. The decision on the expert panel has now been taken, as acknowledged and welcomed by the Deputy. The panel will investigate the problem properly and advise the Minister and make recommendations to him on the next course of action.

I cannot speculate on redress, as the Deputy will acknowledge. The builders' and suppliers' products that may be defective need to be analysed in the first instance.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge that the Minister of State has been in office for a relatively short period. Since he took on his role, he has certainly engaged by visiting County Donegal and inspecting the affected homes. There was a delay prior to this, that is, from the moment the problem was initially raised and when it became clear that something needed to be done to address the matter.

A number of householders whose problem has already worsened to a great extent have already taken remedial action to stymie the progression of the cracking in their homes. The issue of financial assistance arises for them because many have got into very difficult circumstances by consequence of having done work already without knowing what assistance might become available. There are many who may not be able to wait and who may need to take action in the meantime. Could the Minister of State comment on this?

From a number of tests carried out by homeowners, it seems the primary problem is muscovite mica in the blocks. However, it is important for the Minister of State to be aware that a recent test result indicated the presence of pyrite, certainly in one home. However, there has been only one case of pyrite so far. Is the Minister of State confident that the report will be finalised by 21 May 2016?

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy again for raising these important issues. Anywhere that building defects are found, it is a matter for resolution, in the first instance, between the contracting parties, including the builders and product suppliers. I am conscious that there is a trend indicating building defects in Donegal and Mayo. I am not an expert in the field but I know some preliminary tests of been carried out privately by individuals who have found issues that need to be addressed. The Government and I made the decision to establish the expert panel so we could investigate and analyse the problem properly and produce a report for the Minister.

I cannot speculate beyond that, although I expect the report to be comprehensive and completed by 31 May 2016. At that point, we will decide what action we can take. Someone must be held accountable for building defects and that person must be identifiable. The type of investigation and analysis we have initiated will, I hope, assist those who are stressed because their properties are affected by defects. I am prepared to work with everyone involved. The expert panel is being established and I have put out a call to the relevant professional bodies. Let us wait on the panel to report back to us.