Mica Action Group have written a letter to Minister Charlie McConalogue calling for the Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Act to be delivered, saying that homeowners have been “disregarded, dismissed and disrespected”.
Minister Darragh O’Brien had a meeting with homeowner representatives on the 10th of May, where he assured them that the Government were planning on finalising regulations by the end of May.
The implementation of the DCB scheme was due to commence on the 14th of June.
The letter said: “Pre-legislative scrutiny was foregone by the Government a year ago, reportedly to ensure that the scheme would be delivered without delay.
“It would now appear, as first commonly believed by homeowners, that this profession was disingenuous.”
“The absence of best practice in failing to apply full pre-legislative scrutiny, genuinely take on board key issues faced by those affected and a lack of effectual project management is central to your Government’s failure to implement a timely and effective DCB Act.”
Fianna Fáil councillors have acknowledged that the scheme is “evolving” and recognised the inevitability of the issues arising at recent meetings.
“The clear irony is that the shortfalls of the scheme have been communicated to you and your colleagues at every turn and that the ‘difficulties’ have been foreseen and could have been mitigated against by meaningful scrutiny of the bill and adoption of homeowner amendments,” the letter said.
“Together with many homeowners, members of MAG have addressed you and your colleagues at the public meetings, articulating the very real concerns of those affected.
“The sad fact is that there are many more homeowners and business owners whose mental and physical health has deteriorated to such a degree, that they are no longer in a position to convey their concerns.
“You have heard first hand of the flaws of this scheme directly from the people; the ignoring of the science, the exclusion of foundations, the failure to prioritise the vulnerable, the lack of modular homes and absence of available accommodation, the issues surrounding the Certificate of Remediation, the failure to meaningfully engage the banking and insurance sectors in a timely manner, the forcing of people to build to lapsed building standards and the clear fact that this scheme does not represent 100% redress.”
Addressing Minister McConalogue directly, the letter said that he has “witnessed first-hand the anxiety and anger the continued uncertainty and failure to address such issues has fostered.”
Mica Action Group say that homeowners have been “been disregarded, dismissed and disrespected” in the Government’s failure to listen to concerns and to meet crucial deadlines.
“It is a damning indictment of the lack of real concern for the victims who are being forced to remain year after year in collapsing homes riddled with black mould, damp, rain ingress and dangerous electrics,” they said.
The group were informed of the latest setback by email from John O’Connor on the 13th of June, being advised that the
commencement of the Act would be expected within the next few days or week commencing 19th June.
The letter asked Minister McConalogue if he can “provide any assurance to homeowners that the additional discussions will allay homeowners’ concerns with regard to defective foundations, penalty free downsizing, the identification and prioritisation of vulnerable homeowners, transfer of eligibility, a revision of the cap to accommodate inflation, insurance issues, the credibility of the Certificate of Remediation and the peer reviewed scientific research on deleterious materials
in concrete blocks.”
“The suffering of the victims of this disaster cannot be overstated and yet it continues to be treated with casual indifference by those with the political power to resolve this crisis,” the letter ended.
