Canadian and Irish experts meet on defective concrete

International experts on concrete joined local academics and affected householders in a workshop in Derry to discuss delays and barriers in Ireland’s defective concrete block scheme. Delegates heard how the two different countries handled the crisis and remediation.

Inishowen-based academics, Dr Eileen Doherty and Professor Paul Dunlop, both from Ulster University, recently welcomed Michel Pigeon from Quebec in Canada, a former chancellor of Laval University and former elected member of the Canadian parliament. They were also joined by key stakeholders from Le Trois Rivieres region of Quebec as well as key stakeholders from the defective concrete crisis from Donegal and Derry.

Michel Pigeon is one of the foremost scientists in the area of ‘freeze/thaw’ in concrete and has written and published extensively on this issue. He has also recently completed his second doctorate in sociology so has a keen interest on how this crisis is impacting upon both Canadian and Irish society.

Dr Eileen Doherty who hosted the workshop said: “Discussion focused on the Canadian experience and how, whilst the problem emerged around the same time as it did in Ireland in 2010, they have remediated most of the affected homes already. Alain Gelinas from Le Coalition d’aide aux victimes de la pyrrhotite spoke about how he noticed cracks in his home and approximately one month later his remediation, supported by the Canadian government scheme commenced.

“A lot of discussion took place to try to understand how families in similar situations here in Ireland are facing years of delays before works can begin. Discussion centred around how lessons could be learned to support expediting the process here.

“Other obstacles to the scheme raised were things such as issues with technology as well as how many families affected are finding this process so complicated that there is concern among many that they may never be able to navigate this process. The situation of defective homes in Derry was also discussed and further meetings with Derry City Council are planned.”

Dr Doherty and Professor Dunlop travelled to Quebec last September to visit Laval University and the Le Trois Rivieres region where they also have a defective concrete crisis, where the homes of thousands of victims are collapsing due to pyrrhotite.

“During our trip in September, we had the opportunity to meet with a number of key researchers and stakeholders who have significant experience and knowledge of how this crisis unfolded in Canada. Some of these lessons are of significant value to our ongoing research here in Ireland,” Dr Doherty said.

Last week’s workshop took place at Ulster University, Magee, Derry funded by Knowledge Acquisition and Foresight Activities (KAFA) through the Connected NI project at Ulster University.
Those in attendance included key stakeholders involved in this crisis such as Joseph Morgan (EU Campaigner), Dr Karen Kirby, Oisin Keenan and Rachel McHugh (Ulster University), Rory Doherty (Queens University), Martin Mc Dermott (Donegal County Council), Denise McCool, Rachel Grant, Michelle Coyle (Inishowen Development Partnership), Angeline Ruddy (Moville Community College), Alain Gelinas and Michel Lemay (Le Coalition d’aide aux victimes de la pyrrhotite’ in Canada), Sean Mooney (SDLP), Antaine Ó Fearghail and Ciara Ferguson (Sinn Fein), (Derry City Council).

Dr Doherty said: “Following a lengthy discussion by the group, it was noted by one of the participants that victims here are treated as if we are trying to ‘scam the system’ and constantly being made to prove that our applications are valid. This comment ran true and adds to the trauma and stress being felt by many members of society from schoolchildren to pensioners.”
Professor Dunlop said: “One thing of note was that the ‘enhanced scheme’ is coming up for review in terms of a public consultation within the next few months. Those who have tried to navigate the scheme are urged to keep an eye on these dates and to feed back issues they have experienced.

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