COUNCILLOR Joy Beard has welcomed the unanimous support of the council for her motion calling on the government to engage directly with the Defective Concrete Multi-Stakeholder Forum.
Her motion also called for the Government to address the growing uncertainty facing thousands of homeowners following the publication of the revised Irish Standard, I.S. 465:2026.
Speaking after the motion was adopted, 100% Redress Party Cllr Beard said the defective concrete crisis has entered a “new phase”.
“For years, the priority has rightly been getting homeowners onto the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme. We now have to ensure those homes remain mortgageable, insurable and saleable for generations to come.”
Cllr Beard said that while the revised standard has fundamentally changed the scientific understanding of the deterioration mechanism, recognising Internal Sulfate Attack caused by iron sulphides, the property market has yet to catch up.
She also highlighted the continuing stigma associated with some homes.
“Families are still seeing their homes labelled as ‘mica homes’, despite the science having moved on. That outdated perception is affecting property values and causing unnecessary financial hardship.”
Cllr Beard expressed particular concern for homeowners who accepted State-approved remediation options.
“Many people did exactly what Government asked them to do. Some of those remediation options allow deleterious materials to remain and potentially leave foundations at risk. Those homeowners should not now face uncertainty over insurance, mortgages or the future sale of their homes because they complied with a Government scheme.”
The motion calls on the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Finance to engage directly with the Defective Concrete Multi-Stakeholder Forum, which brings together representatives from the Banking Payments Federation of Ireland, Central Bank, Law Society of Ireland, Engineers Ireland, Insurance Ireland and other agencies to develop practical solutions to the long-term issues facing affected homeowners.
Cllr Beard said she was disappointed that the Department of Housing is not currently participating in the Forum.
She added: “We need a clear framework that protects buyers, provides certainty for sellers and restores confidence for lenders and insurers. Government should also examine a certification model similar to the Mundic Block Scheme.”