Anger as leading official said homeowners would 'abuse' defective blocks scheme

'Serious questions' have been raised over comments made by the former Attorney General Paul Gallagher in correspondence to the Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien regarding the defective concrete blocks scheme.

Online platform The Ditch revealed the correspondence, in which the now former attorney general is quoted as suggesting measures to reduce the number of applicants, limit the state’s financial exposure and help ensure claims were kept as low as possible.

Mr Gallagher, who stepped down as attorney general in 2022, is said to have written, in correspondence dated September 7, 2021 that it would be imperative to ensure applicants could only avail of “the least costly option”.

He is also said to have suggested that the scheme to compensate those affected by defective concrete blocks – including thousands of homeowners in Donegal – would “lead to significant abuse” from applicants.

“Any applicant will pitch his/her claim on the most generous basis that can be credibly advanced,” he was quoted as having communicated to Minister O'Brien.

“As previously advised it is going to be essential to lay down stringent conditions which must be fulfilled by every applicant in order to obtain payment on the basis of any option other than the least costly option.”

To date, only 61 homes have been fully remediated under the scheme.

“Serious questions also need to be asked as to whether it is the role of the Attorney General to offer such advice, Sinn Féin Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn said.

“His recommendations outlined go far beyond providing the government legal advice.

“This provides solid evidence, if it were needed, that this government has never been serious about justice, fairness and a genuine 100% redress scheme for the thousands of victims of the devastating defective concrete block scandal in Donegal and further afield.”

His party colleague, Deputy Pearse Doherty, Sinn Féin's spokesperson on finance, also said that serious questions have been raised.

“I would be very curious to know what the Attorney General’s advice was during the formulating of the Dublin and North Leinster Pryrite Redress Scheme,” he said.

“Surely it would have been similar. And, if so, why did the government opt to ignore the advice on that occasion?

“If the Attorney General's advice seems extremely harsh and uncaring in the face of what should be a national emergency, then also know that this advice was implemented in full by government - a government which, of course, includes a Minister from Donegal.”

Independent TD Thomas Pringle said the correspondence shows that the scheme is “only about limiting the cost to the State, not remediating homes”.

“This shows the Government doesn’t serve the people,” Deputy Pringle said.

“There have been two attempts at a redress scheme so far, and neither served the householders’ needs.

“Homeowners in Donegal and in other parts of the country affected by defective blocks deserve at this late stage for Government to act on their behalf and put their needs first.

“I have consistently said this scheme needs to be revisited. This is a problem the State caused with its light-touch regulation.

“It’s beyond time that the Government listen to the affected homeowners, that they provide 100% redress and that they take steps to ensure this does not happen again.”