Darragh O’Brien urged to meet defective concrete blocks homeowners in public

Defective concrete blocks campaigners have called on housing minister Darragh O’Brien to meet homeowners affected by the crisis at a public forum.

The Mica Action Group (Mag) has reiterated a call to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to meet with homeowners impacted by the defective concrete crisis in Donegal when, as expected, he visits the county in the coming months.

It’s over a year since Mag wrote to the minister requesting that he attend a public meeting in Donegal, receiving a response that he  hopes to visit Donegal again in the near future and meet with affected homeowners. The group has written to the minister again saying “that it is timely that you meet in a public forum with homeowners in Co Donegal”.

Mag wants the minister to hear in person from homeowners on the issues they are facing with the enhanced defective blocks scheme.

“The importance of your attendance at such a meeting is paramount. Homeowners deserve the respect  of having their views and lived experience heard at first hand,” the Mag committee said in the letter.

Mag is particularly concerned that a large number of  homeowners are having the recommendations of their original chartered engineer downgraded and are “being assigned a cheaper, unscientific recommendation option” which does not recommend complete demolition.

The group says the enhanced scheme is failing because large numbers of homeowners  are unable to access the scheme “due to a myriad of reasons”.

The Mag committee said that department officials point to the increase in the cap in the enhanced scheme to €420,000 as proof of its success. 

“The reality is that the cap is irrelevant to people if they are unable to access the scheme in the first instance.”

Mag said if the minister is planning to visit in the near future, the date will be scheduled.  

“We ask that you demonstrate respect to homeowners by providing due notice of your visit to  the county so that arrangements to meet you can be made.” 

“We ask that you do not cause additional hurt to already traumatised homeowners by visiting the county unannounced and meeting with officials and other small groups behind closed doors. Given your  political status, Mag are sure you are in agreement that transparency and accountability are of  paramount importance.”