Derry and Strabane Council collect data on MICA homes


Derry City and Strabane District Council  has embarked on a data collection exercise to quantify the number of residents in the Council area whose properties have MICA. It follows a motion passed at a recent Council meeting calling on the local authority to “recognise the ongoing problem regarding MICA and the potential problems associated with […]


Council not in a position to provide modular homes for mica homeowners


DONEGAL County Council held a special meeting in Lifford on Friday to discuss the steps they must take to immediately help those families whose homes are worst affected by defective concrete blocks. The meeting included discussions surrounding the use of modular homes, the Council replied and said this was outside their remit. During the meeting, Council Chief […]


Special meeting over defective blocks crisis


DONEGAL County Council is to hold a special meeting tomorrow to discuss the steps they must take to immediately help those families whose homes are worst affected by defective concrete blocks. The meeting will also discuss the steps to provide alternative accommodation urgently and to seek an update on a recent meeting with the Minister for […]


Funding announced for defective block home owners


The Government has today announced a grant of €15,000 for accommodation costs for those in immediate need of rehousing, due to defective blocks. A further grant of €5,000 was also announced for storage costs. These grants are being made available by Donegal County Council on the submission of relevant documentation. Advertisement Welcoming this announcement, Cllr. […]


Family rents house so they can have Christmas dinner together


A Letterkenny family will spend Christmas day in a rented a cottage because the kitchen of their disintegrating home has been condemned. Sharon Moss lives at The Grange with her husband and two sons. But their property has been reduced to “half a house” due to defective blocks. Speaking during Monday’s protest in Lifford, Ms Moss revealed […]


Pringle presses Government to move on temporary accommodation for mica-affected households


Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, told the Minister for Housing that families forced to leave their mica-affected homes need Government to move quickly on providing temporary accommodation. Addressing the Dáil today, Deputy Pringle said the mica action committee held a protest in Lifford in relation to the inaction of Donegal County Council in actually […]


Mica campaigners prepare to have their voices heard at Lifford meeting


PADDY Diver has warned campaigners are prepared to “take over a government building” to house mica-affected families this Christmas who are living in “condemned” defective block homes. The prominent campaigner was speaking to the Donegal News as campaigners and families prepare to speak at a meeting of Donegal County Council in Lifford on Monday. “We contacted […]


Homeowners share heartbreaking stories at the Defective Blocks Conference


Eileen McLaughlin Long from Inch Island thought she was building her forever home in 2005 until cracks began to appear ten years later. The word mica was becoming more common as the cracks grew wider and wider. After finally getting the money together for core testing the results of Eileen’s home were classed as full […]


Conference looks for solutions to defective blocks crisis


A defective blocks conference held in Letterkenny has heard from a wide range of voices including international geology experts, politicians, families and businesses. Members of the Mica Action Group also offered their views. The event was hosted by Atlantic Technological University and University Ulster. Sponsorship came from the European Union and independent MEP Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan. Advertisement […]


Major defective blocks conference to take place today


AN international conference on the science and societal impacts of defective concrete blocks is due to take place at the Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny today from 1.30pm to 10.00pm. Ulster University, ATU and MEP Luke “Ming” Flanagan of The LEFT in the European Parliament, will co-host the conference. The organising committee for this initiative includes Professor […]