Written answers
Thursday, 5 November 2015
Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
Building Regulations
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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40. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to address MICA affected homes in County Donegal; if he will adopt a similar approach to that taken with pyrite affected homes in the east of the country to offer support to those affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38224/15]
Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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While 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, 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. In this regard, I 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 a number of cases relating to this problem.
My Department has prepared a technical report for my information in this matter. This report was prepared following my visit, earlier this year, to a number of the affected homes to view first-hand the damage caused and had regard to test reports made available to my Department by a number of homeowners in order to provide a more detailed and scientific insight into the problems that have emerged. In this regard, the technical report is under consideration and I intend to complete my deliberations in this matter shortly.
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