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VICTIMS OF THE mica scandal have been made to feel like “chancers” who want “something for nothing” under the government’s redress scheme, a committee has heard.
Politicians have been warned that the problem of defective building blocks could emerge in every county across the country, with one expert describing it as a “ticking timebomb”.
The Oireachtas housing committee was sitting for a marathon seven-hour evidence session on the government’s new defective blocks bill today.
During one section, people directly affected by the scandal told TDs how it has caused “toxic anxiety” and sleepless nights for homeowners amid the fear their house will become dangerous over time.
Defective building blocks containing excessive deposits of the minerals mica and pyrite have seen thousands of properties start to crumble across the country.
Dr Martina Cleary, founder of Clare Pyrite Action group, said the news that your home is affected in such a way “hits you in the gut”.
She told the committee: “It’s a sickening, prolonged toxic anxiety.
“It involves sleepless nights and lying awake wondering how long you have, how much time before your home becomes dangerous.”
She warned TDs: “I will say to the eminent members of our committee here today that this problem may not yet be in your county, but it’s coming.
“We currently know of defective concrete blocks are suspected in 12 counties along the western and eastern seaboard.
“It’s very likely in all of them, every single county.”
Scientist Dr Andreas Leemann said research had shown that it can take anywhere between three and 20 years for signs of damage to become apparent.
He told the committee it can depend on how moist conditions are as well as on the quality of the concrete.
He said: “Some foundations might well have no problem, but others are surely a ticking time bomb.
“And you don’t know exactly when it will go off, due to difference in pyrite, pyrrhotite (another mineral) content, concrete quality, exposure conditions.”
It has been estimated the cost of a compensation scheme for affected homeowners could top three billion euro.
Michael Doherty, public relations officer of the Mica Action Group Donegal said they had identified 35 different issues with the government’s general scheme as it stands, making it “unworkable”.
Listing some of their concerns, he said the scheme does not allow for the inclusion of other deleterious materials like pyrrhotite or for the testing of foundations, something he warned could end up “ultimately costing the state more in the long run”.
He said there is a significant difference between eligible costs under the scheme and true costs, arguing that there is no allowance for the replacement of foundations or for other defective block structures, like walls and garages which he said could be “equally capable of killing members of our young families as they subside and fall over time”.
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Heading up to Clare in the first week of June. Hopefully before the tourist influx as the traffic congestion gets out of control during the summer.
People think the Wild Atlantic Way is some new creation, those of us who know are aware that it’s just the same old west coast we’ve always loved.
A video never does justice to a landscape, far too one dimensional.
@Jack Cassady:
You mean the Atlantic ocean was there before the Wild Atlantic Way?
Get out of here!
@Thinck:
I can’t prove it but according to folkloric tradition it was.
Can’t wait to see your beautiful country mid July.
@worldpeace:
You are very welcome. Hope you have as good a time as we had in your country.
Fabulous…but would be really great to see Failte put a bit of effort into extending the route to include South East coast. Waterford and Wexford coastal areas basically eliminated from national tourism promotions now.
@Jacqui Corcoran: the Waterford Greenway cycle path, covering the old rail route from Dungarvan to Waterford City, will bring a huge boost to Co. Waterford this year. Dungarvan has been really busy with people using it for the last few months! It is ideal for families as it is off the roads, so it is safe as well as being really beautiful.
@Pheilum Shannon: True enough, but Waterford is in the Ireland Ancient East tourism region…..
Short and sweet, with the rolling waves they should also include a couple of surfers.
@Chris Kirk: they had a couple of hurlers…apparantly wave hurling is all the rage…..
Was down that way recently. Never stopped p*ssin. Could not see across to Kerry from loop head visibility was so bad. Wind wud blow you away, no wonder there are no trees. Wonder if this type of weather will be in that video?
@Alan Cooke: move to Spain. We’ll wave you off…
@Alan Cooke: Write a letter to the ombudsman
The Conor Pass on a clear day…..
Sigh, can we leave the West alone. They only reason I love it there is the lack of people.
Lets hope the wild atlantic way does not become the wild expensive way ,we had a tourist industry before and we killed it with rip off prices .
It’s based on the Grand Pacific Drive in Australia – just south of Sydney. Similar scenery, but with a rain forest and just over 100 miles long; takes about 2.5 hours nonstop – with the most amazing sea views on that continent.
Let all go.
You can sugar coat it anyway you like Ireland is a terrible place for the elderly and poor.Its high time we look after our own people and stop pretending that we’re a hip all welcoming country who loves everyone. That’s bollix we neglected our own for far too long. You reap what you sew. I will go as far as saying that we’re in for a summer of unrest.
@Blackwalker617: your right it is a beautiful country!
Those 2 lads never held a hurley in their lives.
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