Taoiseach asked to give his assurances Buncrana residents will be relocated

Deputy Charles Ward has outlined issues with the Defective Concrete Scheme to the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, in the Dáil.

"Since becoming a TD, I have raised the defective concrete crisis every single week in this chamber," Ward said. "I have stood here 23 times, outlining the many issues with your government’s scheme, and highlighting the lived experience of impacted homeowners.

"My message has been consistent Taoiseach, the scheme isn’t working and families are struggling. It is infuriating to stand here week after week, telling you of this, pleading with you to listen, to then go home to Donegal and see firsthand the heartache and destruction of this crisis."

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Deputy Ward detailed issues with the scheme which included technical failures and lack of scientific rigor, financial hardship and unfair costs caused by the scheme, inadequate supports and poor administration of the scheme, workforce and capacity issues, measurement and valuation problems, governance and transparency failures, human and community impacts,  damage to adjacent properties, and non-principal residences and equity concerns.

The 100% Redress TD asked the Taoiseach to reflect on these issues over the recess and to come back in the new term with a new and fair scheme that addresses these issues and leaves no one behind. Deputy Ward also asked the Taoiseach to give his assurances that the residents of Elm Park in Buncrana will be relocated.

Residents are calling for relocation from defective blocks homes who say they do not want to rebuild their houses where the river Crana burst its banks during the heavy rain storm which brought flooding to parts of Inishowen in August 2017.

In response, the Taoiseach said the government wants to meet homeowners needs in an ‘efficient’ and ‘effective’ way and that the residents of Elm Park will have their issues addressed at a meeting next week.