'Homes with defective concrete must be recognised in national emergency planning'

A Donegal County Councillor has written to the Office of Emergency Planning and the Department of Defence to inquire if a new publication has a dedicated section on homes affected by Defective Concrete Blocks.

The Irish Government announced that an emergency preparedness booklet will be distributed to every household in Ireland in the coming weeks.

The 100% Redress Party’s Joy Beard says: “families living in fear, with each storm intensifying that fear, because they are watching their homes deteriorate in real time”, with 25,000 homes affected.

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Campaign Purpose: The "household resilience" booklet is part of a national information campaign designed to improve readiness for extreme weather and the loss of essential services.

Its distribution was a key recommendation from a review group that examined the response to Storm Éowyn. This destructive storm hit Ireland exactly one year ago, causing record winds and prolonged power outages.

Cllr Beard wrote: “I am contacting you regarding the Government’s forthcoming Emergency Preparedness Booklet.

“I am asking, will there be a dedicated section within this booklet for households living in homes affected by Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB)?

“This is not a minor issue. Lives are in danger every single day in defective concrete homes, but during storms, Red Weather Warnings and periods of strong winds, that danger increases significantly.

“In Donegal alone, there are potentially 25,000 homes affected, with many families trapped living in structurally compromised properties because there is no adequate emergency accommodation plan in place, and scheme timelines remain slow and uncertain.

“It is vital that the thousands of homes affected by defective concrete are formally recognised within national emergency planning and that families are given clear, practical instructions on how to prepare for storms and where they can go for safety when their home is no longer safe to remain in.

“Many families are living in homes with bison slab floors, where the walls and blockwork are no longer strong enough to safely support the weight of those floors or, in some cases, even the roof structure itself. This is a catastrophic structural risk and becomes even more critical during severe weather events.

“For these households, emergency preparedness is not about torches, batteries and bottled water. It is about families living in fear, with each storm intensifying that fear, because they are watching their homes deteriorate in real time.
It is only a matter of time, as these homes continue to deteriorate, before a tragedy occurs.

“If the Government is serious about emergency planning, then this booklet must include targeted guidance for DCB households, including:
Safety guidance on where to shelter within a structurally compromised home during severe weather

“Clear advice on what to do if movement is observed, or sections of the home fall off
Emergency evacuation guidance for families forced to leave mid-storm
Clear signposting of emergency supports and emergency accommodation options
Recognition of the very real mental and emotional toll this places on families, particularly during storm events

“A generic emergency preparedness booklet is not fit for purpose if it ignores the reality of tens of thousands of people forced to remain living in unsafe homes. I would appreciate a written response confirming whether a DCB-specific section will be included, and if not, the reasons for that decision.”

The booklet, compiled by the Office of Emergency Planning within the Department of Defence, includes instructions on what to do during extreme weather; a checklist of essential supplies for surviving up to 72 hours without power, water, or communications.
Guidance on staying safe, dry, and warm during crises; community support: alongside the booklet, local councils have been issued guidelines to establish Community Support Centres in town halls or sports centres to provide basic services like food preparation, WiFi, and heating during emergencies.