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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 13 Feb 1975

Vol. 278 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cement Use Investigation.

38.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he has completed his investigation into the use made in this country of high alumina cement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I have asked local authorities to identify all instances of the structural use of high alumina cement in their areas and to advise those responsible for the maintenance of such structures to have the need for any remedial action investigated without delay. Bodies such as the Construction Industry Federation, the Institute of Structural Engineers (Irish branch) and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland together with the members of the Concrete Manufacturers' Association and other concrete manufacturers have been asked to assist local authorities in the matter.

I have been informed by the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards that they are in a position to carry out tests of identification in cases of doubt as to whether the cement was used or not, and also to evaluate the implications where usage is established and I have informed local authorities accordingly.

Local authorities have been asked to let me know the results of their inquiries as soon as possible so that the scale of the technical investigation required can be assessed and any necessary provision made for it. These inquiries are proceeding. In the meantime, I have asked them when considering applications for approval under building bye-laws and the planning code, to ensure as far as practicable that the cement is not used for structural work.

Has the Minister any idea of the number of buildings involved?

I thought I gave the Deputy that reply recently but I can let him have it again. Not a lot of it is used here. In Dublin, for instance, the alumina cement may have been used in three dwelling houses, one two-storey block of private flats, three commercial buildings, one boiler house, one private telephone exchange, one building the property of the Eastern Health Board, one building the property of an institute, one building the property of a religious order and one building the property of a construction company.

The Minister will agree that it is a very serious matter and that people's lives could be at risk. Can I take it that the Minister will do his utmost to take whatever action is necessary as quickly as possible?

As soon as information became available that there was a risk —it was not a question of people's lives being at stake—I had an investigation carried out and those who had used alumina cement have rectified it but no more of it will be used.

The Minister may have gathered from my previous remarks that my interest in this arises from the fact that I saw where a large school in an English city had been vacated by the authorities because this cement had been used. I saw in that building a crack about 20 ft. long and very wide. It was frightening. That is the reason for my concern.

We are satisfied that there is no dangerous evidence in buildings we have discovered here. The Deputy can be assured that if there is any such evidence immediate action will be taken.

Recent reports have given reason for renewed anxiety in certain quarters in regard to alumina cement. Can the Minister assure us that no new evidence has come to hand of a more serious view than some months ago?

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