Defective Concrete Blocks scheme payment delay is 'simply ridiculous'

Homeowners waiting up to 12 weeks to receive payments upon submitting claims under the Defective Concrete Block Scheme has been described as “absolutely ridiculous” by Councillor Joy Beard. 

The Inishowen councillor said it is not a delay but “a systemic failure. We are being stonewalled, just like the families affected. We can’t get straight answers on payment dates, and when we’re given timelines by Donegal County Council, we pass them on in good faith. But those dates come and nothing happens. That is a complete betrayal of trust, not just of us as public reps, but of every homeowner who is waiting to rebuild their life.”

Donegal County Council confirmed last month that a review of the payment process has been carried out in a bid to improve efficiency. Though the 100% Redress Party councillor who has been fighting the issue for a long time said she hasn’t seen any improvements in delivering payments to homeowners. 

“I've been told new resources are being put in place, that there's been a bit of a rejig in there, different personnel have been moved about, but to date I don't see any evidence of these claims being paid any quicker, and even getting answers now is an absolute nightmare.”

The Buncrana councillor stated that “this is people’s lives, their homes, their futures we’re talking about, not some paper-pushing exercise.”

“Even we are trying to find out about claims, we're getting the same information as you are, to be fair, which is not good enough. We need to know, and you need to know, when those claims are being paid. It's ridiculous that people are left not knowing when claims are going to be paid, and builders are not knowing when claims are going to be paid. How can you run a business when you don't know about your cash flow, when those claims are coming in? It's simply ridiculous.”

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Councillor Beard said she intends to keep pursuing the matter because this situation cannot go on. “There must be immediate accountability and urgent action. We will not stay silent while people are pushed to the breaking point.”

“We're already under extreme stress trying to get through this nightmare and navigate through all the red tape and paperwork, and here we are now, the council taking six, eight, ten, twelve weeks to make a claim. It's ridiculous,” added Councillor Joy Beard.