Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join the Leas-Chathaoirleach in welcoming all our guests, particularly Councillor Padraig Fitzsimons.

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for accepting this Commencement matter. It concerns fire defects and the need to ensure housing estates such as Millfield in Newbridge are included in the Department's remediation scheme. Nine years ago, in March 2015, a blaze occurred in Newbridge that burned a terrace of six houses to the ground in just over half an hour.In that time, people's possessions were turned to dust. Luckily, only one resident was in situin the houses on the Millfield Manor estate on the afternoon the fire occurred. He got to safety, but if it had happened at night when more than 20 people lived in these six homes, there is every possibility that somebody would have died. Residents live with that threat every day. Not a family photograph or a stick of furniture survived the fire. Their homes, dreams and plans went up in flames. Every property owner in Millfield Manor is innocent, having bought in good faith and relied on the processes they believe existed in terms of planning and inspection. The developer took shortcuts and having made a quick buck, had gone into receivership by the time the fire occurred, leaving affected residents with absolutely nowhere to turn. Following on from this, as we know, an expert report was commissioned. This estimated that between 62,000 and 100,000 apartments or duplexes built between 1991 and 2013 may have defects that require remediation. I was pleased when the Government finally gave the go-ahead for a redress scheme during the summer, which is estimated to cost €2.5 billion. That is a huge amount of money, but it is a worthy scheme and a necessary payment for homeowners. I know it is expected that legislation to give force to that scheme will be enacted later this year.

Unfortunately, people living in houses in estates such as Millfield Manor have been left with nowhere to turn. The redress scheme is designed only for apartments and duplexes, not for houses. I find it very difficult to follow and understand that logic. Wayne Proctor, chair of Millfield Manor's residents association, has stated:

... we’re left out. No State agency whatsoever has come in and said they would assist us. We are being left completely on our own to address these defects that are dangerous.

I really struggle to understand how these houses are not included in the remediation scheme and how similar problems in other residential complexes are also not included.

Progress on this issue has been very slow. It is a major cause of worry and frustration for residents in Millfield and across the country. Will the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, indicate why the six houses in Millfield that burned down as a result of fire defects and other affected homes are not included in the proposed scheme? Will consideration be given to amending any scheme to ensure that houses that should be included are included?