Pearse Doherty, the finance spokesman for Sinn Féin, has charged the Government with neglecting to take decisive action against those responsible for the mica defective block scandal, including quarry operators, construction firms, and block manufacturers, despite an advice from the attorney general to do so.
Doherty also suggested that there was an intentional attempt at high levels of the Government to restrict the financial aid offered to many homeowners affected by the mica crisis. He noted the detrimental effects of the scandal as houses were badly damaged and owners left destitute.
The defects developed due to the presence of excess minerals mica and pyrite in the used concrete blocks, affecting around 7,000 properties across counties Donegal, Mayo, Limerick, Clare and Sligo. In response, the government launched a scheme to rectify this, promising up to €420,000 grants to affected owners.
Addressing this issue at Leaders’ Questions, the Donegal TD pointed to a 2021 advice by the then attorney general, Paul Gallagher, to the Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien, to heed urgency in taking legal action against those responsible. However, Doherty noted that the government had made no progress on this matter.
He emphasised that the homeowners are victims of a calamity, grappling with economic peril and misery, and merely seek fair treatment, justice, and the assurance of a secure home for themselves and their children.
Doherty highlighted that only 61 properties have been totally repaired so far and commented on the government’s lack of surprise at its failings to address the scandal.
Contrarily, Tánaiste Micheál Martin fundamentally disagreed with the notion that the government was attempting to constrain the scheme. While he admitted initial shortcomings in the scheme, he insisted that the government’s dramatic changes and transformations to the scheme served as a remedy.
He contested the Deputy’s assertion on the limitation of funds to the scheme when the costs amounted to an estimated €2.3 billion, labelling it a highly significant response. Martin assured everyone would be included and that a government-backed second grant would be set up if necessary.
He stated that no other jurisdiction in Europe would have reacted as directly or as comprehensively as the government had done in the handling of the crisis.
The Tánaiste additionally asserted that Sinn Féin has remained neglectful of this issue for a considerable duration. He maintained his stance by pointing out that the party failed to respond to a written request elicited two months post the release of the working group’s report. The request sought the party’s comprehensive proposal on how to tackle the problem in question.