Defective concrete campaigners across Donegal are calling for the increased grant rate of the Defective Concrete Block Scheme to be implemented retrospectively.
The Mica Action Group and other campaigners in Donegal say that those who have already rebuilt their homes should be granted the 10% rate increase which is due to be implemented this month.
Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien is expected to bring a memo to Cabinet to bring the maximum grant for remediation work from €420,000 to €462,000. The proposal is expected to be brought to government in mid-September.
Campaigners such as Paddy Diver, the MAG Committee, Redress Focus Groups, Michael Doherty and 100% Redress Party Councillors have expressed grave concerns regarding the way in which the revisions to the scheme cap and rates look likely to be implemented.
Paddy Diver explains, “It’s 3 years since the cap was set and we have seen massive construction inflation well beyond 10% in that time.
“The review is based on historic cost increases, so homeowners who had to move early have already been faced with these costs.”
Diver added that while there are no apparent plans for any retrospective application of the revisions and that “Government have clearly stated early movers will not be disadvantaged – but a failure to apply the revisions retrospectively will be doing the exact opposite – penalising those who had no choice but to rebuild. This cannot be allowed to happen.”
Diver added that if “Government will not listen to this entirely reasonable ask then we may have no alternative but to consider direct action – this such serious issue.”
Michael Doherty adds that the Government must not U-turn on their Early Mover policy – the precedence of applying scheme enhancements retrospectively.
He said: “The SCSI recommendation of a 6% increase to the sq. ft/sq. m rate is now 6 months old. This was based on a review over the 12 month period up to March 2024. As of September 2024 this has not yet been adopted by Govt and means that all homeowners over the last 18 month were short changed in their grant to the tune of at least 6%. This must be addressed. All DCB homeowners that commenced their rebuild/remediation over the last 18 months and incurred a shortfall in their sq. ft/sq. m rates, must have the 6 month old SCSI rates retrospectively applied.”
Mica Action Group Chair Lisa Hone states that homeowners who have completed their works will have lost up to €42,000.
Hone said: “€42k that takes a lifetime to save, lost because they commenced their house a few months ahead of someone else, with no knowledge of the pending Govt U-turn and its devastating financial consequences.”
Campaigners have written to all local Councillors and TDs to support their call and “stand shoulder to shoulder with the affected homeowners” to influence the Housing Minister before the scheme amendment is set in stone.
Roisin Gallagher, Redress Focus Groups adds: “Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has the opportunity to eliminate such issues ahead of the formal announcement.
“The letter explains the issues and asks them to respond by Thurs 12th September to articulate their support.”
