Seanad debates

Wednesday, 13 July 2022

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage

 

10:00 am

Photo of Niall BlaneyNiall Blaney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the work that has gone into this scheme and its evolution since 2020, as alluded to the last day. I have never witnessed legislation evolve like this, with such access given by a Minister to his departmental officials. I sincerely thank the Minister for that access to his officials. It was useful to work with them in changing the scheme dramatically.

I acknowledge Senator Craughwell’s comments because I too would like a constructive debate today on the issues that still arise. This is our last opportunity to air and discuss them. Consider the circumstances if I am approved for stage 2 of the old scheme and have started works only for the engineer to realise the deterioration of the house has accelerated. Where an engineer believes option one should apply to the house, he does not have the ability to achieve that under the current legislation. Is there any way around that? It is a big bone of contention for many people. It was great to get to the point where those rebuilding their homes on the same sites and with the same footprints were exempted from having to obtain planning permission. As the day goes on, I would like clarity on whether an individual downsizing will also be exempted.

My next point, on the standard of blocks sold today, may not relate to this legislation and may be for another day. It is important from here in that suppliers of concrete products specify in their dockets what is in those products and the standard of the block, sill or whatever it may be.Suppliers of concrete products should be indicating on their dockets what is in those products, such as the standard of that block, cell or whatever. Those standards should be outlined on the docket the purchaser receives. That should be their guarantee.

There are other matters I will comment on as the debate proceeds. I am not fully au faitwith the position regarding external walls that are not connected to the house and garage. Such walls can also contain mica. I would like it if, somewhere along the way, the Minster could have another look at that and introduce something in respect of it, particularly as it also gives rise to a direct cost for the homeowners. There is flexibility in there somewhere. I ask that the Minister takes a look at the matter if he gets a chance.

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