“This is the year that matters”, was the message to defective block homeowners at a packed meeting in Buncrana yesterday.
Over 1,000 people packed the Inishowen Gateway Hotel to hear Donegal’s elected politicians respond to The People’s Document.
The document, created by a cross-campaign group, sets out four principles of ‘true 100% Redress’ needed to solve the defective concrete block crisis.
Four of Donegal’s five Dáil representatives addressed the crowd last night: Joe McHugh of Fine Gael, Pearse Doherty and Padraig Mac Lochlainn of Sinn Féin and Independent TD Thomas Pringle.
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A statement from Fianna Fáil Minister Charlie McConalogue said he could not attend as he was at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels.
Fianna Fáil Senator Niall Blaney told campaigners that he would not be there as he is on the campaign trail.
“Do not give up the fight this year, of all the years that matter, it’s this year,” campaigner Michael Doherty told attendees, as he urged them to believe that there is a brighter day ahead when a full resolution can be achieved for the thousands of families affected.
Michael Doherty speaking at the meeting in Buncrana. (NW Newspix)
Deputies Thomas Pringle and Joe McHugh voiced their support for ‘The People’s Document’.
The document, created with the input of hundreds of homeowners, calls for ‘like for like’ home rebuilds; a government managed, cost-free process with self-built opt out; inclusive supports for all those affected; and prevention of similar crises.
When asked for a pledge of support for The People’s Document, Deputy Pearse Doherty said that Sinn Féin is prioritising an end-to-end scheme rather than a grant scheme. The mechanism, he said, is based on bringing in a framework agreement to enlist a company to provide remediation on a large scale, containing the cost to the exchequer.
“My commitment and the party’s commitment is resources will not be the issue,” he said.
Deputy Doherty said that Sinn Féin’s proposed scheme does not commit to holiday homes and commercial property “right now”.
Sinn Fein’s Padraig Mc Lochlainn speaking at the People’s Document meeting in Buncrana. (NW Newspxi)
Speaking about the current government scheme, Deputy Doherty said: “We have to make the best we can with this scheme at minute and try and fix as much as possible, but this scheme is shite. That is the reality.
“Most people who are affected will never draw down this scheme. They (the government) know that, because you won’t have the money to draw it down and it’s done deliberately.
“The only way that I think we can do this is by changing the government.”
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Speaking on behalf of the 100% Redress Party, Tomás Sean Devine said that the party’s candidates, if elected to council, plan to ‘hound every party’ to ensure the People’s Document is delivered and no property is excluded.
Devine said: “100% Redress party will no longer tolerate the ‘say nothing, do nothing’ culture of our council. Instead, we need a ‘can do, will do approach’ some creative thinking with emphasis on solving problems.”
