by Chris Ashmore
DONEGAL County Council is calling on the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ensure that any review of the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Remediation Scheme is carried out in consultation with Donegal County Council and homeowner representatives.
This follows a motion on the subject tabled by Councillor Joy Beard at the March plenary meeting of the local authority in Lifford on Monday.
Cllr Beard pointed out the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme commenced in June 2023 under the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, and that a review of the scheme is expected approximately three years after its commencement, in or around June 2026.
She stressed that Donegal has the largest number of affected homes in the State. She said the experience and expertise of the local authority administering the scheme, together with the lived experience of affected homeowners, must be formally considered in any review of the scheme.
In addition, she also called on the Council to impress upon the Minister the need to ensure that the review also takes into account the outcome of the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) review of the quality standard IS 465. She said that once it is concluded, any revisions to this standard may have significant implications for testing methods, eligibility assessments and remediation options for affected dwellings.
“We must work towards solutions, time is running out,” she told the chamber.
Members heard that a meeting with Department officials is being lined up, prompting Cllr Frank McBrearty to request that he also be part of the delegation.
In the meantime, the Council is to write to the Department and those on the “listed contacts” list in relation to her motion.