Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage to discuss issues relating to quarries and deleterious materials

The meeting at 3pm in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will hear from:

• Representatives from the National Building Control Office (NBCO);
• Representatives from the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI); and
• Officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Steven Matthews said: “We are all now painfully aware how serious the issue of defective blocks and deleterious materials has become in light of the problems experienced by homeowners in Donegal, Mayo and other areas. It is a problem that has left lasting and damaging consequences for all those affected by it.

“Serious problems happen when standards are ignored and it is critical that the standards set by EU and Irish law are implemented and enforced. That is why monitoring of the manufacture and sale of these construction products now and in the future is so important, particularly given the potential cost of rectifying past failures that will be borne by taxpayers.

“The Committee welcomes the opportunity to hear an update on the recent audit of quarries in Donegal and we look forward to discussing these issues and related matters with the Department, the NSAI and the NBCO, which are the bodies responsible for the implementation and monitoring of construction product standards in the Irish market.”

The Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.