AN ELDERLY woman has accused the State of failing pensioners who are “daunted and overwhelmed” by the defective concrete block scandal.
Thousands of homes across Donegal are crumbling and households can apply to have them rebuilt under the Government’s redress scheme.
But there are hundreds of elderly men and women, many widowed and living alone, who are scared by the process, do not have savings, cannot take out a loan because they are too old to repay it with employment, and have nowhere to go for the rebuild, campaigners told the Donegal News.
Retired grandmother Mary Connors (76) of the Defective Concrete Block Silver Circle Group has had “death trap” dubbed on the side of the house.
She said: “The thought of going on the scheme paralyses me. I do not know where to start. It’s daunting and overwhelming.
“The State has let down the elderly. This house was meant to be my forever home.”
Loving granny Mary Connors with her grandson Patrick Newman.
Mary lives on Inch Island in Inishowen where she bought her home in 2006 after she retired.
She said: “I started seeing cracks in 2011 and paid €1,200 to have my house tested at personal expense.
“They were testing at that time for mica and said the blocks contained high levels of mica. I now think that money was wasted and the report is no use to me.
“That was 15 years ago. I have lived in this house all that time and witnessed its deterioration.
“I have cracks in the wall, I have to insulate the gaps between my window frames and the blocks because of the gaps.
“It’s so bad I am afraid of carrying on living here. Whenever there’s a storm, I am afraid. My elderly friends are the same. We worry about surviving the winter.”
The outside of retired grandmother Mary Connors’s defective block is deteriorating rapidly and she fears living there.
Mary added: “I haven’t registered for the redress scheme. It’s overwhelming and the process is frightening to undertake this alone.
“We are waiting for the Government to get it right and to help us. We are being left to do everything all by ourselves. People have huge financial concerns.
“Some have limited savings, they survive on their pensions. How are people supposed to come up with the upfront costs?
“We can’t get a bank loan and then work to pay them off. I thought this house would be my forever home. No-one was prepared for this.
“The State has been aware of this crisis for years. They have let it drag on while building costs have risen steadily.”
The inside of elderly woman Mary Connors’s house shows visible cracks from defective blocks.
Mary and other heartbroken homeowners, whose forever homes are crumbling due to defective blocks, are to reveal their fears at a special gathering tomorrow.
The meeting about defective concrete blocks (DCB) has been arranged by the DCB Silver Circle (OAP and Retired Homeowners) Group.
Pensioners are to collate their concerns and then present them to Donegal County Council’s Defective Blocks Committee next week.
Pensioners fears are to be presented to the Defective Blocks Committee of Donegal County Council.
Mary said: “I will speak and we will make sure that the council hears what we have to say.”
Organisers told pensioners that the meeting is their “chance to voice your concerns” and have these presented in an important speech to “key decision makers” at the council.
A spokesperson said: “This is your chance to voice your concerns and have them included in our address to the key decision makers.
“Please come along and make your voice heard, and share this post with anyone who may be affected.”
The DCB Silver Circle (OAP and Retired Homeowners) Group is to meet tomorrow (Tuesday) at 11am in An Grianán Hotel, Burt.
The spokesperson said all pensioner and retired homeowners affected by defective blocks are invited to come together and discuss the key issues.