Donegal Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has again appealed to the government to “stop dragging their heels” on raising the cap for the Defective Block Grant Scheme for all homeowners.
Homeowners already on the DCB scheme have been waiting since Autumn for the increased grant rate to be applied, while new entrants have been able to avail of the higher cap for months.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn said there can be no excuse for these delays.
He commented: “This is a straight forward amendment to the 2022 legislation and it should have been brought through the Dáil and the Seanad before the election late last year as I had called for.
“My fears have now been realised and a large number of homeowners are facing real financial hardship trying to make the final payments to builders for the remediation work to their homes. These delays are costing them as much as €42,000 of a shortfall.
“There can be no excuse for these delays. The government have been dragging their heels. These amendments to the legislation do not have to come before the Oireachtas Committees. They could have been brought before the Dáil and the Seanad at any stage since the election and speedily passed as they are supported by the opposition if they honour the commitments made late last year.”
Deputy Mac Lochlainn added: “These delays are cruel and they are causing unnecessary anguish to many families across Donegal. I appeal to Minister James Browne and the Government to urgently sort this out, once and for all”.
