Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise the protest that will take place outside the convention centre from 1.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. with the mica and pyrite groups from Donegal, Mayo and along the western seaboard. It is an extremely serious situation.

It is positive we have a scheme up and running but there are challenges and difficulties with the scheme. It only allows for 90% redress of the cost of replacing the home and, even at that, it is capped at €275,000 and based on a house of 1,950 sq. ft. The vast majority of the homes implicated in this are beyond that size. In reality, it is not 90% but is closer to 70% or 80%. It also does not allow for the cost of having to rent while the home is demolished in full or in part. It does not account for the cost of having to store one’s goods or of having to pay for a really expensive test at the outset, which costs up to €7,000, to get into the scheme. Many people cannot afford that level of outlay at the outset.

As we go out this afternoon to support the people of Donegal, Mayo and the western seaboard to seek that 100% redress from the scheme, it is important that as many people as possible go outside. We cannot leave people in this situation. They are standing within their homes watching the walls crumble around them. I have seen footage of homes where they have had to move to the left-hand side of the house because they have been told the right-hand side could collapse at any moment. A young family lives in that house. Some people have had to move out. Others cannot move out because they cannot afford it. Many cannot access the finance to bridge the gap between what the scheme provides and the cost of getting the home replaced, which could be up to €100,000. This is a humanitarian issue and a housing issue. People cannot afford to go elsewhere. They need help to replace the homes. It is important to note that is through no fault of their own. They did not cause this and we cannot leave people in the situation they are in.