Election candidate Eimer Friel says she will propose the setting up of a special Mica committee on Donegal County Council if elected this weekend.
The Fine Gael candidate has worked with the Mica Action Group (MAG) for the past five years and says it’s important families have a role in the Council-led redress scheme.
“It’s important that newly-elected councillors have a role and an oversight over how Donegal County Council manages and runs the scheme,” said Friel.
“And it’s just as important that the Mica Action Group has a voice on that committee too.
“They are the people who have been at the forefront of the campaign and living the nightmare and it is vital they get to oversee the response from the council. So I want to see a special committee set up in Council and given a statutory footing, with powers to oversee the scheme and scheduled to have full monthly meetings.”
The Government has approved a 90 per cent contribution scheme with those homes worst affected being fixed first.
Friel added: “I’ve also agreed alongside Joe McHugh to work with MAG to come up with ways of minimising the impact of the 10 per cent contribution including contacts with banks and other lending institutions.
“It’s important that banks help including writing down mortgages on homes that are currently worth very little – but will return to their market value once remediation works are completed.
“I want to pay tribute to all those involved in MAG and I want to pay tribute to our local TD Joe McHugh whose work to get this problem recognised by officials finally got the redress scheme delivered.”
