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DARRAGH O’BRIEN has said that no decision has yet been made on how much a mica redress scheme could cover.
Speaking to reporters in Donabate in Co Dublin, the Housing Minister said: “I inherited the previous scheme that came in and we’re looking to improve that.”
He said that he would be meeting mica-affected homeowners again on Wednesday.
Echoing comments made by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar on Friday, he said: “Nothing is off the table.”
The Government has faced huge criticism in recent months over its redress scheme for homeowners whose properties were built using defective bricks containing excessive amounts of the mineral mica in Donegal, Mayo and other counties.
“We have to work on a plan that one, is going to be deliverable,” O’Brien said.
“Two, is better than the original scheme and I believe we’ve made real progress in in that space,” he said.
“I’ll be meeting with the homeowners again on Wednesday this week, and then I intend in the coming weeks to be able to bring a package to Government that I hope I’ll get approval for,” the Housing Minister added.
“It will require significant increased investment from the Exchequer,” he said.
“I’ve also said before that I think those responsible and other sectors will need to have to pay towards it too.
“That’s something that I feel very very strongly about. So I’ve ruled, absolutely nothing, out.”
Various Government figures have insisted that everything remains on the table for homeowners impacted by mica.
In a statement issued by Fine Gael on Friday, Varadkar said: “The existing scheme is clearly not adequate and there is a need for an enhanced scheme.
“This is overdue.”
Last week, the Taoiseach said that the Government is committed to “enhancing” the compensation scheme for families affected by mica.
Speaking to reporters in New York, Micheál Martin said that Government is aiming to have talks on a redress scheme finished by the end of the month, with a proposal brought to Cabinet in early October.
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Where are the builders merchants, quarries etc. that supplied unfit material and where are the builders, developers that built the houses? It’s one of the fundamental consumer rights that products should be as advertised and fit for purpose.
Also, where is the Homebond insurance (or similar) which all houses had to protect against major structural defects?
While compensation is needed, I can’t agree with the idea that Irish Citizens should have to bear the cost of this or any other similar redress scheme.
Worst of all, the same suppliers and builders will likely supply and build the new houses paid for under the scheme which seems to be growing by the day.
It’s outrageous..
@White Chapel: This is what happens when you had a tent in a field in Galway where developers and builders could buy legislation.
@White Chapel: Irish citizens should have to bear the cost. We voted in FF and FG continuously despite proof that they were negligent.
Why should those in the East of Ireland where FF and FG are strong get full compensation for their misfortune but those in the west have to cough up huge sums to be included in compensation scheme.
Look – if the banks can get bailed out then surely these hardworking taxpayers should be compensated in full also.
The money will not come from these building companies – we all know that.
@Peter McGlynn:
Blaming the voters? Would you ever give it a rest. I can only assume by your selective reading of my comment that you must be one of those affected?
Did you not see above where I said I wasn’t in favour of this or any other similar compensation scheme?
Have you never heard of professional indemnity for builders, contractors etc.? Has anybody pursued any of the businesses involved, because I’m sure they know who they are. You just ignored that
What about the point I made about the Homebond insurance cover against major structural defects? You ignored that also.
You believe that the state (the citizens) who had no role in the buiding of most of these houses should be made to pay 100% of this compensation, while all the above parties who were actually involved have no obligation to contribute anything?
Such a farce of a response.
In fairness this man is losing the plot and plenty of them to developers and builders.The man has no idea the damage he is doing to the future of the young and not so young people of Ireland.
Is he in charge of anything other than soundbites and large unvouched for dinners?
@Paul Mc: Yes.
I smell another levy being foisted apon us for the next hundred years.
@l:
A new insurance levy was proposed during the week to help us savie towards the cost of the next insurance/banking collapse.
Mica Martin come home and sort it out.
@White Chapel – I couldn’t agree more.
Just because we’re now €240billion in debt doesn’t absolve this government from a duty of fair play. 100% redress now for those taxpaying, mortgage owning unfortunates.
have your say