A Donegal TD has been told by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, that the Mica Redress Scheme will not have to go back for cabinet approval and with just some final details to be agreed.
Charlie McConalogue welcomed the Minister’s reply after he had raised the matter in the Dáil again this week.
The Fianna Fáil TD pressed the Minister for an update on the status of the scheme, highlighting that comments locally from Minister McHugh indicated the matter was with the Attorney General (AG).
It is understood that the Minister expects progress on the matter “very soon”.
Deputy McConalogue said: “This has been long promised to homeowners in Donegal and some 5,000 people have been waiting for years for the scheme to be delivered so their houses can be fixed. If the matter is with the AG does that mean the cabinet are agreed in relation to the structure of the scheme?
“I asked Minster Murphy for a commitment on when the scheme will be published and when the houses will begin to be fixed.
“In his response he acknowledged my commitment to the issue and the patience the people in Donegal have shown in this regard. He said that ‘It does not need to go back to Cabinet. I can confirm to the Deputy that the scheme has already been through Cabinet in terms of approval.’
“The Minister also explained that as part of the next steps the regulations need to be finalised between his Department and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and confirmed that ‘it is just that final piece that needs to be done and I am told that will be done very shortly’.
“While the Minister’s reply appears positive, I will continue to follow up with him and ensure the necessary final hurdles are overcome so the scheme can finally get up and running.
“The people affected by this have waited long enough and I will be constantly checking with the Department to ensure the scheme can, at long last get started so people can get their homes fixed,” Deputy McConalogue concluded.
