Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien has made the unusual move of turning to the opposition for opinions on the Mica crisis.
Minister O’Brien wrote to housing spokespersons from Opposition parties this week asking a series of questions about how the redress scheme should be amended.
The letter, he said, is keeping with the cross-party support for the Dáil motion in June calling for 100% redress.
Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin released the details of the letter he received last night. He told the Irish Independent that the query was ‘bizarre’ and ‘an entirely political exercise’.
Seventeen questions are posed in the letter.
The letter asks if the opposition will support a cap based on a square footage basis, or a cap on overall expenditure per home. Other questions ask if holiday homes, rental properties, second homes and commercial properties should be included in the scheme.
Opposition spokespersons are asked if they support a formal state apology to homeowners, or a public enquiry, or a compensation scheme.
The Minister wrote: “The impact of MICA and pyrite in the block has been devastating for families who are witnessing their homes crumble around them. I am fully aware of the pressing need for a scheme that gives them real hope and the government is committed to bring forward new proposals as soon as possible.”
He added: “The government is committed to bringing forward changes to the scheme in the coming weeks as a matter of priority and this information will help to inform that process to reflect all parties’ views.
