Article Updated: 10.40am
A media report on the Attorney General’s guidance for the defective concrete block scheme has stoked anger over the government’s approach.
The correspondence, as reported by The Ditch, reveals that the Attorney General warned Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien that DCB homeowners will seek the most ‘generous’ grants.
The AG suggested measures to reduce the number of applicants, limit the state’s financial exposure and help ensure claims were kept as low as possible.
Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, said the reported correspondence from the Attorney General shows the Government’s priority has been limiting costs, not addressing the issue.
Deputy Pringle said: “This shows it is only about limiting the cost to the State, not remediating homes.
“The homeowners and families affected by defective blocks have told Government time and again that the scheme is not the 100% redress they need and deserve, and Government continues to fail to address their concerns.”
Deputy Pringle added: “This shows the Government doesn’t serve the people. There have been two attempts at a redress scheme so far, and neither served the householders’ needs.
“Homeowners in Donegal and in other parts of the country affected by defective blocks deserve at this late stage for Government to act on their behalf and put their needs first.
“I have consistently said this scheme needs to be revisited. This is a problem the State caused with its light-touch regulation. It’s beyond time that the Government listen to the affected homeowners, that they provide 100% redress and that they take steps to ensure this does not happen again.”
Sinn Féin Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn reacted to the report and said it was: “This provides solid evidence, if it were needed, that this government has never been serious about justice, fairness and a genuine 100% redress scheme for the thousands of victims of the devastating defective concrete block scandal in Donegal and further afield.
“Serious questions also need to be asked as to whether it is the role of the Attorney General to offer such advice.
“His recommendations outlined go far beyond providing the government legal advice. “
Deputy Doherty added: “If the Attorney General’s advice seems extremely harsh and uncaring in the face of what should be a national emergency, then also know that this advice was implemented in full by government.
“A government which, of course, includes a Minister from Donegal.
“I would be very curious to know what the Attorney General’s advice was during the formulating of the Dublin and North Leinster Pryrite Redress Scheme. Surely it would have been similar. And, if so, why did the government opt to ignore the advice on that occasion?
“I believe this now raises some serious questions.”
