100% Redress Party slams government amendment to Ward’s defective concrete motion

The 100% Redress Party has condemned the Government’s amendment to Deputy Charles Ward’s motion on the Defective Concrete Crisis, debated in the Dáil on October 15.

The 100% Redress Party has described the amendment as “a self-congratulatory sham that whitewashes government failure and ignores the ongoing humanitarian crisis.”

While tens of thousands of families remain trapped in unsafe, crumbling homes, the party say the Government is using its amendment to praise itself for a crisis that it caused and continues to mismanage.

Instead of accepting Deputy Ward’s motion, which called for transparency, scientific accountability, and 100% redress for every victim, the Government has replaced it with “a PR exercise built on denial”.

“This is a shocking attempt to rewrite history,” said Cllr Tomas Sean Devine, a founding member of the 100% Redress Party and Chairperson of the Defective Blocks Committee.

“The Government is patting itself on the back while families live in collapsing houses, families are abandoned, and quarries remain self-regulated. This amendment is not progress, it’s propaganda.”

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Cllr Denis Magee said: “The Government wants us to congratulate them for implementing a scheme that only partly rectifies the damage they have themselves caused through a total absence of market surveillance. There’s no admission of guilt, no humility, and no word of apology. It’s like knifing someone in the back and then wanting to be thanked for stopping the bleeding”.

Deputy Charles Ward’s motion, tabled on behalf of the 100% Redress Party, highlighted: The scientific evidence disproving the mica “freeze-thaw” theory, confirming pyrrhotite and framboidal pyrite as the true causes. The failure of the Enhanced Grant Scheme, which leaves homeowners facing shortfalls of tens of thousands, no temporary accommodation, and exclusion of foundations. The lack of mental health support, despite the University of Ulster study showing severe trauma among affected families. The urgent need for state-led demolition and rebuild, the same as already delivered in North Leinster. No exclusions

The co-signing of the motion by all the opposition shows the need for reform of the Enhanced Defective Blocks Scheme and the 100% Redress Party thank them for their support and understanding the effect this is having on the lives of the innocent victims.

The Government’s amendment paints a rosy picture that simply doesn’t match the reality.

It claims that the Enhanced Scheme is delivering support, yet families are still facing crippling shortfalls, no temporary accommodation, and years of delay leaving them trapped in unsafe and unhealthy homes.

It boasts that testing costs have been removed, but families are still paying €600–€1,000 upfront for Building Condition Assessments which they cannot afford during a cost-of-living crisis.

It insists that scientific standards have improved, even as the same unregulated quarries continue operating and IS 465 remains under review.

It claims to be listening to experts, while ignoring independent geological findings proving the scheme’s foundation is scientifically flawed.

And it congratulates itself on significant progress, when the reality is that thousands of homeowners are still waiting for appeal determinations, foundations remain excluded, and the crisis continues to spread across the northwest.

The 100% Redress Party says the Government’s amendment glosses over a humanitarian disaster that continues every day across Donegal, Mayo, Clare and Limerick.

“If this were happening in Dublin, it would be declared a national emergency,” said Cllr Ali Farren. “Instead, we get an amendment full of self-praise and hollow promises while families sleep in homes they fear could collapse in the next storm. That’s the reality this Government refuses to face.”

The Party fully supports Deputy Ward’s original motion and rejects the Government’s watered-down amendment. The Party calls for immediate action: Full demolition and rebuild (Option 1) for every affected home as the science has proven.

State-led delivery, as already provided for Pyrite homes in North Leinster. Mental health supports for every affected family. An independent audit of all Donegal quarries as per a motion passed by Donegal County Council. An end to self-regulation in the aggregates industry.

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Cllr Joy Beard said: “We urgently need comprehensive supports, financial, practical, and mental health to help families survive this ongoing humanitarian crisis. For far too long, they have borne the burden of government failure. It’s time they were given the security and justice they rightfully deserve.

“The Government cannot rewrite this crisis as a success story. The truth is written in the cracks of every damaged wall across the northwest. This is not a victory for the Government, it is a tragedy for the people. Until every family is safe, the 100% Redress Party will continue to fight for justice, no one should have to live in fear inside their own home.”