Mica homeowners may have to wait until mid-April until they can access the new redress scheme, it has emerged today.
An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told the Dáil that primary legislation to implement the scheme will be finalised “no later than Easter”.
The delays were branded as “completely unacceptable” by Independent TD Thomas Pringle who has called on the government to remove the “nonsensical” sliding scale.
Addressing the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, in the Dáil today, Deputy Pringle said: “It’s seven weeks since I stood here and asked you to explain where the dubious sliding scale came from. That day you said you reckoned it was a sensible one. You may still hold that thinking. But you cannot continue to call it a 100 per cent redress scheme and stand over the sliding scale at the same time.
“It’s irrational and it’s totally disingenuous, Tánaiste. The people of Donegal are not fools, so I’d ask that you stop with the spin,” he said.
The deputy said he has asked the minister a number of parliamentary questions on the matter, yet the minister has failed to provide an adequate answer.
Deputy Pringle said: “Seven weeks later, his department has yet to release records under FOI on the issue either. It gives me the impression it was a calculation written on the back of an envelope at the very last minute in cabinet and rubber-stamped.
“There is a stench from it,” he said.
Deputy Pringle asked for a definitive timeline for the mica redress legislation to be published.
“And will you commit to consigning the nonsensical sliding scale to the bin of bad ideas?,” he asked.
In response, the Tánaiste said Government expected legislation to establish the mica scheme on a statutory footing no later than Easter.
“It’s shocking that it would take so long,” Deputy Pringle replied.
