Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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1097. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the technical report prepared by his Department in relation to the tests carried out on the concrete blocks which are affected by mica in County Donegal; the way his Department will assist affected home owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22386/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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In general, building defects are matters for resolution between the relevant contracting parties, i.e. the homeowner, the builder, the materials supplier and/or their respective insurers and I firmly believe that the parties responsible for poor workmanship and/or the supply of defective materials should face up to their responsibilities and take appropriate actions to provide remedies for the affected homeowners.

In the event that the contracting parties cannot reach a settlement by negotiation, the option of seeking redress in the Courts can be considered. In this context, my Department understands that legal proceedings have been instigated in some of the cases relating to this problem.

I fully appreciate and acknowledge the extremely difficult and distressing situations that certain homeowners in Donegal are facing on account of damage to the structural integrity of their homes and, consequently, my Department met with a number of the affected homeowners in early December 2014. At that meeting, my Department requested copies of test reports from accredited laboratories on the affected concrete blocks, which had been commissioned by a number of homeowners, in order to provide a robust and scientific insight into the problems that have emerged.

Following my visit earlier this year to a number of the affected homes, copies of the requested test reports were provided to my Department and have now been reviewed. A technical report has been prepared and is currently under consideration.