Press Release Manifesto Call October 2015
MICA ACTION GROUP CALL ON ALL POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES TO COMMIT TO DEFECTIVE BLOCKS ISSUE IN DONEGAL IN ELECTION MANIFESTO
For Immediate Release 13th October 2015
The Mica Action Group (MAG) have today written to all of the political representatives in the county both at a local and a national level and have asked that they commit to including the issue of defective blocks in their election manifesto.
Phil Mc Daid, Chairman MAG said:
“MAG have over the last 2 years being lobbying at both a local and a national level for government support in relation to the hundreds of homeowners/families who have come forward so far, whose homes have been built with defective blocks. In November 2014, in excess of 350 people attended a public meeting in Burt into the defective blocks issue. Following this meeting the group were invited to meet with the Department of Environment (DOE) in Dublin to discuss this issue in greater detail. Following this meeting, Minister for Housing Paudie Coffey travelled to Donegal in February and visited some of these homeowners and saw first-hand the dangerous conditions under which homeowners are living every day. MAG subsequently provided the DOE with detailed technical reports undertaken by a number of homeowners into the cause of the defective blocks to their homes. In July of this year Minister Joe McHugh, following a meeting with Minister Coffey announced that an independent panel of experts would to be set up – as called for by MAG, to examine the extent, cause and possible remediation of this defective blocks issue.
“However, months have passed and with each day as we get closer to an election, we feel the government are dragging their heels. Firstly, the request put to Minister Noonan for an exemption for affected homeowners from the Local Property Tax was refused – even though this exemption is offered to homeowners affected by pyrite in Dublin and Meath. Secondly, in the last number of weeks, Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly when asked about progress on the independent panel said that he was still considering a technical report from the DOE on this issue – the same response given 5 months ago. So what has happened in the intervening months? Unfortunately for the many affected homeowners, they do not have the luxury of time as we approach the winter months and many families are living in fear of further damage to their homes or even worse. We need action now!
“As such, the Mica Action group are asking all of the political parties to embed this very serious issue of defective blocks into each of their political manifestos. We need a commitment from each and every one of them that if they get elected they will commit to a full investigation and the setting up of a redress scheme. We are also calling on all homeowners affected by this issue of defective blocks to exert any pressure you may have on all political representatives to ensure this issue is taken seriously and progressed at the highest level. We cannot simply sit around and wait on the government to act – it is time to ask that a full commitment is made on this issue.
“In the meantime the Mica Action Group urge anyone who suspects that they may be affected by this issue to register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9KPFQKM or contact the Mica Action Group on at www.facebook.com/Micaactiongroup.
Copy of letter sent to all political representatives in Donegal attached
A Chara,
Mica Action Group – MAG is a lobby group established in Donegal in 2014 by a number of homeowners whose own homes are affected by the issue of defective blocks. MAG represent in excess of 200 other homeowners / families who, through no fault of their own are also suffering this same issue; in many instances their homes are uninsurable, unsellable, worthless and increasingly dangerous places to live in. This number is increasing on almost a daily basis. MAG is asking that a redress scheme be put in place for these families.
After a series of meetings at local, regional and national level within the political arena, an announcement was made by Fine Gael in July 2015 that the government intends to establish a panel of experts (similar to the Pyrite Panel) to examine the cause, extent and possible remediation for this problem. However since then, MAG has not been given any update on what progress, if any, has been made with regard to the establishment of this panel of experts.
As mica is highly deleterious, the houses of the homeowners/families we represent continue to deteriorate, particularly in inclement winter conditions. These homeowners/families cannot afford for the government to procrastinate on this issue. Each day that passes brings the risk of a fatality as a consequence of this issue to the fore.
We as a group, are asking that you as a political representative in the county undertake to exert any influence or pressure you may have in ensuring the issue of defective blocks in Donegal is clearly embedded in your political manifesto for the upcoming election through the following:
- Establishment of an independent panel of experts to undertake a comprehensive investigation into the extent, cause and possible remediation of this defective blocks issue.
- Ensuring defective block suppliers in the county adhere to the new quality standards of blocks/cement as per recent legislation.
- Provide exemption from payment of the Local Property Tax (LPT) (as offered to Pyrite homeowners) for all homeowners affected by the issue of defective blocks.
- Setting up of a redress scheme for all affected homeowners where no other course of redress is open to them.
We are asking that you reply to us on this very urgent issue and your stance on this in relation to your political manifesto within the next 10 working days.
Le dea ghui
Ann Owens
Eileen Doherty Joint Secretaries
For further information please contact The Mica Action Group on micaactiongroup@outlook.ie or by telephone on 086 8648888. Media enquiries to Eileen Doherty, Mica Action Group on 087 2910106 or email eileendoherty1972@gmail.com.
