Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My thoughts are with Senator Ardagh. It is a disgrace. I am bringing a Bill next week to address that very issue and will be looking for the support of the House on it. I also want to add my condolences to the family of Councillor John Naughten. We attended the funeral last week. It was incredibly sad. What an amazing tribute to a man who spent a life in public service.

I am rising today to ask the Leader to write a letter on our behalf to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. On apartment defects, there is a fantastic remediation scheme and I know the Leader is sick listening to me raising it again and again. However, a new aspect has come to my attention, concerning a very tiny cohort of people, those who have private houses adjoining a residential development that is afflicted by apartment defects. I have written to the Minister to bring it to his attention. The number is very small. Most apartment complexes are stand-alone buildings but there are a few built in towns and villages that are multi-unit complexes with an adjoining neighbour. If such a complex is affected under the apartment defects and comes within the category, that complex is entitled to the remediation scheme and to benefit from all of that. In the legislation that is coming forward, they will benefit from that. However, currently, if you are a neighbour to that property you are not included in the remediation scheme because you are not technically one of the actual apartment owners. These people are affected by water ingress and the defects in the building. It is really important that this very small group is included in the legislation that is currently being drafted. One woman wrote to me yesterday whose home adjoins a development in Wexford. They are plagued for the past 26 years by terrible problems in their house caused by the apartment complex next door. I do not think anyone in this House would disagree with the importance of this. I appreciate that we will not have time for statements on the matter but I would be grateful if the Leader could convey the sentiments of the House to the Minister, to make sure this tiny cohort is included in the remediation scheme. I have already written to the Minister on it.