Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2016
215. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the terms of reference of the expert panel, chaired by a person (details supplied), which is investigating problems in concrete block work in counties Donegal and Mayo, will allow it to recommend financial assistance to families already forced to carry out remediation works to ensure the safety of the family home. [11243/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra216. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to amend the terms of reference of the expert panel, chaired by a person (details supplied) which is investigating the problems in concrete block work in counties Donegal and Mayo, to allow it to investigate problems in concrete block work in publicly owned buildings such as council housing and schools; and if the terms of reference allow the expert panel to recommend a redress scheme similar to the pyrite redress scheme. [11244/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 216 together.
The expert panel on concrete blocks, which commenced its work in April of this year, was established with the following terms of reference:-
- To identify, insofar as it is possible, the numbers of private dwellings which appear to be affected by defects in the blockwork in the Counties of Donegal and Mayo;
- To carry out a desktop study, which would include a consultation process with affected homeowners, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals, testing laboratories, industry stakeholders and other relevant parties, to establish the nature of the problem in the affected dwellings;
- To outline a range of technical options for remediation and the means by which those technical options could be applied; and
- To submit a report within six months.
I have no proposals to amend the terms of reference at this time and will await the outcome of the panel’s report before considering what further actions may be required to assist the parties directly involved in reaching a satisfactory resolution to the problems that have emerged in Donegal and Mayo. While the expert panel intends to meet with public authorities who may have buildings affected by damage in the concrete blockwork and would welcome any information that can be made available, it will be the responsibility of the relevant public authorities, as the owners, to address any problems that may have emerged in their buildings.
