Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach and I thank him for his presence. I want to discuss the issue of the ongoing remedial works scheme for Mullaghmatt housing estate which, as the Minister of State probably knows, is located in Monaghan town, and consists of more than 180 dwellings constructed in the 1970s. Unfortunately, many issues have been associated with the development over the years, and the residents have had to put up with many defects affecting the properties, which have been anything from defective wiring to fractured chimney breasts to drafty doors and windows just to name but a few.

The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment finally acceded to addressing the issues but, unfortunately, decided to do so on a phased basis. Phase 1, which commenced more than a decade ago, resulted in a number of dwellings being completed at the time. Unfortunately, we are now onto phase 4 which, I hope, will be the final phase, and we await positive news on this. As a result of the approach taken by the Department over the past decade, the people of Mullaghmatt have effectively been living on a building site.The works completed to date have enhanced the quality and appearance of the estate but, unfortunately, there are 81 dwellings yet to be remediated and they are still awaiting commencement of the fourth stage of this process.

The people of Mullaghmatt have put up with living in defective dwellings for between 30 and 40 years. While I welcome that the Department is addressing the issue, these works need to be commenced as soon as possible so that the people of Mullaghmatt can lead normal lives and plan works that they would like to do their dwellings but have been holding off on until such time as these works are completed. I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, will confirm that the tender for the works will be accepted shortly so that they can commence without delay.