Donegal County Council has today passed a motion seeking an independent judicial statutory public inquiry into the defective concrete block crisis.
The motion was moved by Independent Councillor Frank McBrearty, stating that the full truth of the scandal, which the State has attributed to freeze-thaw, must be revealed.
With scientific evidence pointing to internal sulfate attack as the cause of crumbling blocks, Cllr McBrearty has called for forensic evidence to be provided on the origin of the freeze-thaw mindset which was shared as far back as 2013.
Cllr McBrearty called for the withdrawal of the IS 465 standard, on which the current DCB scheme is based, and stated that the inquiry would be for “for all the people that have been forced into a grant scheme that is based on a false standard”.
Following the passing of the motion, Donegal County Council is set to write to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with the call. Cllr McBrearty added that every member of the Oireachtas should also receive the wording of the motion.
The motion has received the full backing of the 100% Redress Party.
Councillor Tomás Seán Devine, who seconded the motion today, added: “The 100% Redress Party stands united behind this call. Homeowners deserve nothing less than the full truth and proper accountability.”
Deputy Charles Ward said: “This collective call reflects growing public demand for transparency and an end to the ongoing hardship faced by tens of thousands of impacted families. Our community deserves a public inquiry. We deserve transparency and respect. This crisis has gone on far too long, we need the inquiry to happen now, so we can finally get answers and justice for those impacted.”
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