Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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50. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government for an update on the work to date of the expert panel set up to examine the Mica issue; when he expects the panel will be in a position to report its findings to his Department; to put a redress scheme in place to provide financial assistance to affected homeowners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18296/16]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The expert panel on concrete blocks has met on three occasions since it was established in early April last and is continuing to review the information that has been made available to it in relation to the problems that have emerged in affected homes. Additional information has been sought from affected homeowners as well as from Donegal and Mayo County Councils, which will be of assistance in the research necessary to inform the preparation of the panel’s report.

The panel has also visited the owners of nine affected homes during the second week of May in order to view first-hand the problems that have emerged in those homes. Meetings with representatives from the Mica Action Group and with elected members and officials from Donegal County Council were also held in order to seek additional information on the nature of the problems that have emerged in the blockwork of the affected homes. Further meetings will be held with a broad range of stakeholders, other interested parties and elected representatives over the course of the panel’s investigations, including in particular with certain homeowners in Mayo, who are facing similar problems with their homes.

Early Iast week, I also held meetings with the elected members from Donegal County Council and with representatives from the Mica Action Group in order to hear their concerns directly. In addition, I visited three of the affected dwellings and spoke with the homeowners concerned on the very difficult and distressing situations they are facing due to the damage to their homes.

Ultimately, the panel’s terms of reference aim to establish the facts behind the problems that have emerged in Donegal and Mayo and to outline technical options for addressing the problems identified in order to assist affected homeowners. It is anticipated that the panel will require in the order of six months to complete their work. In this regard, I will await the outcome of the panel’s report before considering what further actions may be required to assist the parties directly involved in reaching a satisfactory resolution to the problems that have emerged in the two counties.