The latest statistics on the remediation of homes affected by Defective Concrete Blocks have been described as deeply concerning by Clare TD Donna McGettigan.
Ms McGettigan was reacting to the latest statistics on the scheme up until February which showed that just three homes were completed in County Clare.
She said, “197 people in county Clare have applied for remediation of their homes under the scheme since it commenced. Up until February of this year just three of them have completed their remediation. That is outrageous.”
“These are not just statistics, these are families. They are under immense stress and pressure living in homes that are falling apart.”
“I have found the council to be very proactive, I can’t fault them. The blame lies with the government. This is an inadequate scheme which has been implemented piecemeal and families have had to go into debt to make up for shortfalls in the funding they are receiving.”
“The government provided a guarantee scheme to concrete product manufacturers and must now live up to their obligations. People living in these homes had no way to know about the defective materials used in their construction.”
“The government have also failed to provide remediation funding for social housing, leaving tenants to live in unsafe and unsuitable accommodation while their plight is ignored by the state.”
“How many more year’s must people wait? This scheme was supposed to be a lifeline for people trapped in crumbling homes. But it has turned into a bureaucratic and slow process which has trapped families in a nightmare. These figures speak for themselves, just three homes completed, across two different schemes, since 2020.”
“We in Sinn Féin have consistently pointed out the flaws in the government’s schemes and demanded 100% redress across the board. We will continue to advocate on behalf of the people affected by defective concrete products in their homes,” Deputy McGettigan concluded.