Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien is set to publish a report of an audit into all active quarries in Donegal.
The report was ordered in the wake of the Mica crisis and government concerns over compliance in the local industry.
A copy of the audit by the National Building Control Office was received by the Minister on Tuesday. He said he is now reviewing it “with a view to publication and ensuring its recommendations are carried out”.
Minister O’Brien told the Dáil that the audit was ordered to ensure that the crisis never happens again.
He added that the NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland) is undertaking a review of the Irish standard for concrete blocks, including aggregates, to ensure it is fit for purpose.
“I will appoint a senior counsel to review the causes of the mica and pyrite disaster and make recommendations on the matter,” Minister O’Brien added.
The Minister has said he is committed to making the new defective blocks scheme work with continuous reviews and improvements.
The new bill was debated in the Dáil on Thursday evening, where Minister O’Brien said he wanted to address legitimate concerns and criticisms of the legislation.
He said that the Government decision on 30 November 2021 called for a number of reviews to be completed “to ensure this disaster does not occur again and the core problems are addressed. ”
These included a review of the IS 465:2018 protocol, including consideration of the impact of other potential material such as pyrrhotite. It called for a review of the adequacy or otherwise of the existing foundations in homes impacted by defective concrete blocks and a review of the potential impact, if any, of full cavity wall insulation on homes susceptible to damage or damaged by defective concrete blocks.
The Minister said: “I wish to clarify that the Bill allows for the Minister to adjust, through regulations, any issues that arise from these scientific investigations. I assure the House that if a problem is found with foundations or other issues through the National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI, that will be dealt with.”
Other amendments have included the addition of Clare and Limerick into the scheme and the possible extension of the scheme to other local authority areas.
He added the costs of the scheme will be varied each year and reflect the construction costs as set out by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, SCSI, and inflation.
He also told the Dáil that he wants to “draw a red line under this scandal and ensure no other properties are impacted in future”.
The Minister remains keen to move forward and implement the scheme, saying: “We cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good and we need to get a practical scheme moving. I reiterate that the scheme will evolve in future and we will continually keep it under review.”
Donegal Minister Charlie McConalogue said that more work remains to be done on the scheme.
Minister McConalogue said: “We need to consider the outstanding issues to be addressed in the legislation or regulations, for example, flexibility on downsizing. Also important is the National Standards Authority of Ireland’s work on the new deleterious materials that have emerged such as pyrrhotite and other sulphur.
“In the interim period, we need enhanced engagement between the Department, Donegal County Council and other local authorities to ensure as many as possible of the applications in train can move on and that as many houses as possible can be fixed as quickly as possible.”
Independent TD for Donegal Thomas Pringle said yesterday’s debate was a “total farce”.
Addressing the Dáil, Deputy Pringle said: “I actually think this is a waste of time what we’re doing here today, because the deadline has passed for amendments. So you’re not listening to what we have to say.”
He said: “I’m disgusted at what the Minister fervently presents to us today as a panacea to the problems faced by my constituents in Donegal and other affected counties to the problem of defective blocks in their homes. It clearly isn’t.”
Deputy Pringle said: “I’m disgusted the way that this bill confirms, that despite what the Taoiseach has presented in this house, called extensive consultation with homeowners, their concerns have not been addressed and not been listened to.”
He said department officials sat in meetings with affected homeowners for the last six months, “pretending to listen to them, and then actually ignored them”.
The deputy said that he had told Donegal homeowners that he did not believe the minister or department had any intention of providing 100 per cent redress, “and sadly it was shown here today”.
Deputy Pringle said: “It’s not just the content of the bill presented here for second stage. It’s the fact that the Government is hell-bent on ramming it through committee and remaining stages in two hours next week.
“It means this debate here today is a total farce. It has no point in terms of the legislative principles of this House, as the deadline for the submission of amendments had passed prior to the start of this debate,” he said.
