Councillor Martin McDermott has called on the Irish Government to further their urgency when it comes to the redress scheme in Donegal.
In October, cabinet approved a redress scheme for private houses affected by bad blocks containing high levels of the mineral mica in Donegal.
However, such plans have been delayed since the turn of the year and at a recent meeting of councillors in Inishowen on Tuesday, Cllr McDermott said the situation had been greatly ‘underestimated’.
“You can see how bad the situation is with mica,” he said. “It is just mind-boggling when you start going around every second house and I think that we have even underestimated how bad the situation is out there.
“I think we’ve underestimated the number of houses that are affected and I only started in my own local vicinity of Glengad, Culdaff and Malin Head.
“I am just working in that small area and I am shocked by the number of houses that are affected.
“It is a very serious issue at the minute and I know that the government are working on it but I think people are getting very anxious because it running on and on, and something has to happen very soon.
“For the number of people that have big mortgages and build houses and they are falling around them,” he added.
“It is a very serious issue and it is the main issue that will greet every councillor at doors in Inishowen in this local election.
“It is without a doubt the main issue that will be meeting us at the doors and I think it is vitally important that collectively the nine councillors for Inishowen put on as much pressure as possible to get some elevation for these families.”
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