Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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625. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the work of the expert panel set up to examine the Mica issue; when the panel will report its findings to his Department; if he has a timeline for a decision on putting a redress scheme in place to provide financial assistance to affected homeowners following on from the panel's report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25855/16]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The expert panel on concrete blocks has met on four occasions since it was established in April 2016 and is continuing to receive and review the information that has been made available to it in relation to the problems that have emerged in affected homes in Donegal and Mayo. A substantial volume of information has now been provided by affected homeowners in both counties, as well as from Donegal and Mayo County Councils, which will be of particular assistance in completing the necessary research to inform the preparation of the panel’s report.

In the case of Donegal specifically, the panel 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 both the 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. The panel also met with members of the Oireachtas from Donegal in late July to discuss the problems that have emerged in the blockwork of certain homes in the county.

Separate to the panel, I have also held meetings in June last 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. I also visited a number of affected homes in Mayo in late July and met with the homeowners to discuss the problems they are facing with regard to their homes.

Earlier this month, the panel visited twelve homes in Mayo in order to observe the problems that have emerged in those homes and to gain an insight into the damage from homeowners. Meetings also took place with both the elected members and with officials from Mayo County Council in order to hear of their experiences in the matter.

Further meetings have taken place with a number of industry bodies and additional meetings are anticipated with other interested parties before the panel conclude their research into the problems that have emerged in the affected 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 complete their report before the end of the year. 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.