Change of government needed to help deliver redress

FAMILIES in Donegal whose homes are impacted by the defective block scandal had a frank meeting with the leader of Sinn Féin during her visit on Friday.

Mary Lou McDonald today met with families in Inishowen, and was accompanied by Donegal TDs Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Pearse Doherty and they set out Sinn Féin’s absolute commitment to deliver 100% redress for all defective block homeowners.

Speaking afterwards, Ms McDonald said she had “lengthy and detailed discussions” with affected families. She said a change in government was the only way forward for those affected.

“Thousands of families, through no fault of their own have been left in an appalling situation for years now because of the use of defective blocks in their homes. They have been very badly let down by the outgoing Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael government who have not taken this issue seriously and have shown no urgency. The result is that only a very small number of homeowners out of the thousands affected have had their homes remediated but they have had to pay tens of thousands of euro themselves. This is utterly unfair and everyone else continues to be left in limbo with no certainty for the future.”

Ms McDonald said she and her colleagues set out the party’s commitment to deliver 100% redress, which would ensure that all residential properties are remediated with surrounding walls and ancillary buildings covered.

“ It would also include holiday homes and rental properties that remain in the rental sector with no claw back for the first three properties. Separately, we will audit commercial and community properties to identify the extent and scale of what is required and options for redress,” she said.

“We have a clear plan and have ensured that the funding will be in place from day one so that the maximum number of homes can be remediated quickly.

“After so many years of families getting the run around, it is clear that a change of government is the only thing that will deliver 100% redress and allow all of these families to move forward with their lives. That is the least that they deserve after all that they have been put through.”

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