Derry politicians updated on defective concrete blocks and products

A workshop to bring Derry politicians up to speed with the underlying cause of defective concrete blocks and products will be facilitated by Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC).

Speaking to Derry Now, Professor Paul Dunlop, from Ulster University’s School of Geography and Environmental Sciences, described the workshop as “absolutely vital to improving the understanding of why homes and buildings are crumbling” in Inishowen and wider Donegal.

Professor Dunlop explained: “Every member of the consortium which is examining this issue has found the exact same thing. The science is really clear. The latest analysis we did and presented in the Geological Survey of Ireland in October demonstrated Internal Sulphate Attack is happening in inside walls, outside walls and the rising blocks.

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“Sulphur is being released by Pyrrhotite in the foundations, so there is potential there for Internal Sulphate Attack.”

The decision for DCSDC to hold a workshop was one of the outcomes of a conference held in Ulster University, Magee last week.

Titled: ‘Defective Concrete Crisis Workshop: The Canadian and Irish Experiences’, the event was co-organised by Professor Paul Dunlop and Dr Eileen Doherty and attended by local councillors and MLAs.

Professor Michel Pigeon, former Chancellor of Laval University, Quebec, and former elected member of the Canadian parliament was also in attendance. He was joined by key stakeholders from Le Trois Rivieres region of Quebec and  from the defective concrete crisis in Derry and Donegal.

Professor Dunlop said all of the elected representatives present at the conference were committed to the organisation of a “vital” Council-facilitated workshop on the scientifically proven cause of defective concrete blocks and products - Internal Sulphate Attack.

“Ultimately, this is about us sharing our research. It is about having informed discussion from people who know what they are talking about,” said Professor Dunlop.

“In the past, we didn’t have the evidence. There was a campaign but it is clear now from the research what is causing it. We reiterated at the conference the importance that anyone in Derry worried about defective blocks, that they should absolutely not go looking for Mica because we know that that is not the issue. 

“We also highlighted the fact that when MAG (Mica Action Group) tried to clearly ascertain the number of properties affected, nobody wanted to come forward because, once you came forward, your home was worthless.

“There are issues which we can share that can help the elected representatives in Derry and Strabane actually get to the root of the problem and test and find the correct cause of the problem. Blaming mica is a complete waste of time and will set the whole situation back years.

“In the forthcoming workshop, we will share our knowledge of what we have learned from Donegal and our scientific research, so they get off on the right foot.”

Commenting on ‘Defective Concrete Crisis Workshop: The Canadian and Irish Experiences’, Dr Eileen Doherty said she and Professor Dunlop had travelled to Quebec in September to visit the Le Trois Rivieres region where they also have a defective concrete crisis.

Dr Doherty added: “In Quebec thousands of victims are collapsing due to Pyrrhotite. During our trip we had the opportunity to meet with a number of key researchers and stakeholders who have significant experience and knowledge of how this crisis unfolded in Canada.

“Some of these lessons are of significant value to our ongoing research here in Ireland.  Of note was the meeting and detailed discussions we had with Professor Michel Pigeon.

“Michel has significant knowledge and experience of this issue. He is one of the foremost scientists in the area of ‘freeze/thaw’ in concrete and has written and published extensively on this issue.  

“He has also recently completed his second doctorate in sociology so has a keen interest on how this crisis is impacting upon both Canadian and Irish society.

“Discussion in Derry last week focused on the Canadian experience and how, whilst the problem emerged around the same time as it did in Ireland in 2010, they have remediated most of the affected homes already.

“Alain Gelinas from Le Coalition d’aide aux victimes de la pyrrhotite spoke about how he noticed cracks in his home and approximately one month later his remediation, supported by the Canadian government scheme commenced.

“A lot of discussion took place to try to understand how families in a similar situation here in Ireland are facing years of delays before work can begin.

“Discussion centred around how lessons could be learned to support expediting the process here.

“Other obstacles to the scheme raised were things such as issues with technology as well as how many families affected are finding this process so complicated that there is concern among many that they may never be able to navigate this process.

“Following a lengthy discussion by the group, it was noted by one of the participants that victims here are treated as if we are trying to ‘scam the system’ and constantly being made to prove that our applications are valid.  This comment ran true and added to the trauma and stress being felt by many members of society from schoolchildren to pensioners.

Professor Dunlop concluded: “One thing of note was that the Irish Government’s ‘enhanced scheme’ is coming up for review in terms of a public consultation within the next few months. 

“Those who have tried to navigate the scheme are urged to keep an eye on these dates and to feed back issues they have experienced.

“Minister Darragh O’Brien [Housing Minister] said a number of years ago that this scheme would evolve as it got rolled out. This is an opportunity for us to see if he was sincere about this as if things are not working we will expect that they will evolve and be addressed.

“Ultimately, the workshop furthered the discussions around research opportunities and helped reinforce these connections with our Canadian counterparts. Further research and discussions are planned for the coming months.”