Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I take the Senator's point very seriously. In the first instance, we must capture exactly the extent of this issue right across the country and also in terms of the budget that will underpin what will be a significant remediation scheme. I would point to the many legacy issues with which we are still grappling post the previous decade and more, including that we are trying to establish the professional register for building contractors, which will assure people into the future of a standard of quality assurance in the work they contract builders to do. Much of that good work is ongoing. It will improve matters.

I appreciate the point the Senator has made. I have met a delegation from my constituency on many occasions who have sought to further advance this issue which, in their position, relates to fire safety, which is also a very serious matter. People potentially could be at risk from the outbreak of a fire. I will do my best to pressure the Department as much as I can in this regard. I understand it is a genuine issue. It is a major debt to force upon ordinary constituents which can be very difficult to discharge. As a State, we need to step up to wrongdoing which is not due to any fault of the apartment owners.