An special meeting will take place tomorrow to discuss Donegal County Council’s response to the Mica crisis.
A cross-party meeting of the Mica Redress Committee was called after public anger spilled over into protest action in Carndonagh on Monday.
More than 1,750 homeowners have registered with the Mica Action Group, who launched a call for a boycott against one of the companies alleged to have sold defective blocks. The protesters are also calling for Donegal County Council to cease doing business with anyone who has provided substandard building materials in Donegal.
Inishowen councillors yesterday stressed their call for a reversal of the 10% contribution required from families to fund repairs/rebuild if approved under the redress scheme.
“Prices are rising everyday, the cost of materials is rising every day. I think this 10% is excluding a lot of people from availing of the scheme and it’s something we must address with central government as a matter of urgency,” said Cllr Terry Crossan.
Cllr Martin McDermott, chairperson of the Mica Redress Committee, said hard questions will need to be asked tomorrow when councillors bring their concerns to the executive and to housing officials.
Cllr Nicholas Crossan said the anger felt by the Inishowen community has long been kept under wraps, and while it bubbled to the top this week, it’s in everybody’s best interest to work together for a solution.
Cllr Albert Doherty is also demanding an urgent meeting with Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien to discuss the Mica scheme, its deficiencies, the amendments required and an appropriate programme for social housing scheme tenants.
The issue was raised at the Lifford-Stranorlar and the Letterkenny-Milford meetings on Tuesday too.
Cllr Liam Blaney said recent protests showed the anger felt by the public and called for the Mica redress application process to be quickened.
The Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme has so far approved nine grant applications, to the value of €1,053,366.44. There have been a total of 321 Stage 1 applications received to date, with 175 of those awaiting further assessment or being assessed.
