Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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1766. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a redress scheme for homeowners affected by mica will be established within the first quarter of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1298/18]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1769. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the progress which has been made to establish a suitable redress scheme for homeowners affected by the issue of defective block work in counties Donegal and Mayo; when such a scheme will be accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1367/18]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1766 and 1769 together.

The Expert Panel on concrete blocks was established by my Department in 2016, to investigate problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Counties Donegal and Mayo.

The panel had the following terms of reference:

1.To identify, insofar as it is possible, the numbers of private dwellings which appear to be affected by defects in the blockwork in the Counties of Donegal and Mayo;

2.To carry out a desktop study, which would include a consultation process with affected homeowners, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals, testing laboratories, industry stakeholders and other relevant parties, to establish the nature of the problem in the affected dwellings;

3.To outline a range of technical options for remediation and the means by which those technical options could be applied; and

4.To submit a report within six months.

On 13 June 2017, the report of the Expert Panel was published and included eight recommendations which my Department are actively progressing with the relevant stakeholders.

My Department is prioritising the implementation of recommendations 1 and 2.

With regard to Recommendation 1, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) Technical Committee, established to scope and fast track the development of a standardised protocol, held its inaugural meeting on 11 September 2017 and has held several further meetings since.  The standardised protocol will inform the course of action in relation to remedial works for all affected householders. My Department understands from the NSAI that the Technical Committee is in the process of finalising the standardised protocol, which will be available for public consultation shortly.

With regard to Recommendation 2, my Department has been in contact with Engineers Ireland in relation to the establishment of a register of competent engineers for homeowners/affected parties’ reference.  Engineers Ireland have provided assurance that they will collaborate with the Department, the NSAI and others on measures to establish such a register.

In July 2017, I visited Donegal and Mayo and met with key stakeholders, including affected homeowners, elected members and officials of the local authorities and other interested parties. 

On 18 December 2017, I again  visited Donegal and met with key stakeholders to provide an update on the progress to date.

In addition, and in light of the information contained in the report,  I am currently 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.