Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair for selecting this Commencement matter, because it is very important for up to 100,000 apartment owners who are affected by structural defects caused by light-touch regulation and ineffective building controls during the 2000s. These people purchased their apartments on the understanding they were fit for purpose and, unfortunately, as we see now, they are not, and it is going to cost thousands of euro to repair them.

I very much welcome the pyrite and mica proposals that will assist homeowners who have bought houses affected by pyrite or mica. Why, therefore, is there discrimination against apartment owners and why has there been no assistance whatsoever in resolving the latent defects and the legacy issues caused by light-touch regulation under previous Administrations? This problem stretches from Blanchardstown to Cork, from Galway to Dublin, from the Beacon centre in Sandyford to the docklands area in the middle of Dublin city. Residents purchased their starter home and are not able to move on because the money is not in the management company funds to carry out these repairs.

Will the Minister of State, Deputy English, explain why there is one set of rules for one and not for the other? While I welcome that homeowners whose houses have pyrite or mica are being assisted, I want to know from the Minister of State why the Government is treating two sets of citizens differently.