GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION INTO DEFECTIVE BLOCKS FINALLY COMPLETE
The Mica Action Group has today, following a meeting with key representatives at the Department of Environment, confirmed that the investigation into the issue of defective blocks in counties Donegal and Mayo has been completed. The report, from this investigation has today been sent for legal proofing. In the interim, Minister Damien English, TD, Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal, will be briefed on its findings.
Ann Owens Secretary Mica Action Group said:
“The Mica Action Group has today been in direct contact today with the Department of Environment and we are relieved to hear that the investigation into defective blocks used in the construction of homes across the county has finally concluded.
“We have been disappointed over the last number of months at the delays in concluding this investigation and the increased pressure this has put on homeowners and their families. Whilst these delays were disappointing, we have been assured that the report is the result of a robust piece of work, with real attention to all the facts and figures, including those provided by homeowners. This report will provide the Department of Environment and Ministers Damien English and Simon Coveney with all the information necessary for them to make a decision on the way forward. We are hopeful that this will include the setting up of a redress scheme for all homeowners affected, which MAG has been calling for, for the last number of years.
“We are told that the report will be made publicly available by mid-March 2017. We appreciate that the remit of the investigation was to investigate the scale, the cause and the proposed remediation for the defective blocks issue and look forward to reviewing its findings. As a group, we are in contact with hundreds of homeowners who are in a dire situation, not knowing what the future holds for them or their families due to the increasingly precarious and worrying position they find themselves in as a result of the progressive deterioration of their homes. With nearly 500 homeowners now registered with the Mica Action Group and hundreds more confirmed to be affected in social housing, the number of homeowners and their families affected by this issue of defective blocks used in the construction of their homes, continues to rise.
“Additionally, the Mica Action Group has formally requested a meeting with representatives from the Department of Environment at the earliest possible opportunity, following publication, to clearly understand all aspects of their findings and the implications of these for affected homeowners.”
If you think you are affected please contact the Mica Action Group on www.facebook.com/Micaactiongroup.
