GOVERNMENT COMMITS TO A DECISION ON MICA REDRESS BY MAY 2018
Members of the Mica Action Group and a number of affected homeowners yesterday took the opportunity to meet with Minister Damien English at the Donegal County Council Public Service Centre in Carndonagh to discuss government progress to the defective blocks issue. At that meeting, Minister English confirmed that a decision would be made on the issue of defective blocks, who specifically will fund it, for homes affected across Donegal and Mayo and by the end of May 2018. He promised that the government will not stop until we get a solution to this crisis.
Minister English was reminded of the severity of what affected families are dealing with and the untold stress for hundreds of families created by the apparent lack of urgency being afforded to the matter by the Minister and the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.
Ann Owens, MAG Secretary commented;
“Minister English assured the Mica Action Group and the homeowners present, that following implementation of recommendations 1 +2, that the government will move swiftly to bring a solution to this issue for those affected.
“He stressed that we cannot afford to skim over this part of the process, as he said, having been involved in pyrite himself that it is absolutely fundamental to get this phase correct. He said we will do this right and we will all benefit down the road.
“Homeowners also had an opportunity to meet with the minister. Tonight we had more than 400 people turn up to meet the minister and show him that, even at such short notice, and in the week of Christmas, people are willing to take time to show the minister how important this issue is in the county and we need to see a solution urgently.
“One of those who showed up was Amy Lafferty and her family. Amy had the opportunity to present the minister with her handwritten, heartfelt letter asking him to ‘please help us as I just want our family to be happy again’.
“Other families such as Tina and Harry Crumlish from Culdaff and Maria Fraser from Buncrana turned up and met the minister personally. Both families have now been told that their privately built homes, are no longer safe to live in and they must move out immediately for the safety of them and their families.
“Minister English confirmed that in these desperate circumstances, that through working with his department, Donegal County Council will now ensure these families are housed as a matter of urgency. A further review of the eligibility criteria will be undertaken over the coming months. For now the council will deal with each family on a case by case basis.
Finally Ann Owens commented:
“We are all frustrated at the pace of progress as, as each week passes our homes are getting worse. Tonight we felt a real sense of commitment from the minister and are heartened to hopefully see the end in sight.
Mica Action Group representatives and homeowners before the meeting with minister in Carndonagh yesterday
Some of those who turned up to support the defective blocks issue
Some affected homeowners and some of the Lafferty family on the right who presented the Minister with a handwritten letter (L-R Amy Lafferty, Veronica Lafferty, Marie Lafferty).
Some of the Lafferty family on the right who presented the Minister with a handwritten letter (L-R Amy Lafferty, Veronica Lafferty, Marie Lafferty).
Amy Lafferty handwritten letter to Minister
Some of those who turned up to support the defective blocks issue
Mica Action Group and Homeowners in meeting with the Minister
Mica Action Group and Homeowners in meeting with the Minister
