Updated: 11.30pm
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the Mica scheme has to be progressed without any further delay.
Government signed off on an expanded defective blocks scheme on Tuesday which will cost up to €2.7 billion. The legislation is set to undergo fast-tracked pre-legislative scrutiny with input from Mica Action Group.
Donegal Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said he could not understand the move, given that €2.7 billion of taxpayers’ money is involved.
“Families have been let down again and again,” Deputy Mac Lochlainn said.
He called on the Government to work with families to ensure proper scrutiny and that the legislation, at last, delivers 100% redress.
In reply, Mr Martin said: “It is time to move on this. One day, the Deputy will come in here and attack the Government for delaying.
“I am open to progressing this. I want honesty and transparency in the legislative process.”
Mr Martin said that when he visited Mica-affected families in Donegal, “they were complaining about delays in getting houses rebuilt.
“They wanted urgency in getting houses started. I understand 300 houses have been identified by Donegal County Council on which a start could be made. We need to get going, particularly on the houses that are most damaged and are not habitable at the moment. We need to get them demolished and rebuilt.”
“I genuinely think we need to get on with it,” An Taoiseach concluded.
