Housing Agency’s new refusal method leaves homeowners in crisis – warns Redress TD

Donegal TD Charles Ward is warning of “systemic failures, unethical engineering decisions, and the urgent need for proactive intervention” in terms of defective concrete redress measures.

The 100% Redress Party Deputy has accused the Housing Agency of finding “new and inventive ways” to exclude people from the remediation scheme.

“Families are living in fear every day, watching their homes crumble while being told they do not qualify for help. It is heartbreaking, and it is cruel,” he said in the Dail.

“Homeowners have already endured a failed appeals system when pyrrhotite in blocks was ignored. Now, the Agency has introduced a new method to refuse access, stretching I.S. 465, cherry-picking facts, and telling only part of the story.”

“These decisions, it has been warned, reflect poor engineering judgment. Aggregates in some properties may contain deleterious materials such as mica and iron sulfides, which accelerate cracking and compromise structural durability.”

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Deputy Ward has also highlighted the huge volume of ethics complaints already submitted to Engineers Ireland regarding Housing Agency engineers, raising serious questions about accountability and professional oversight.

“This flawed approach cannot stand,” he said. “Waiting for appeals to correct errors is reactive, costly, and forces preventable harm on homeowners who cannot afford delay. The Agency and Minister have the authority and responsibility to act proactively and treat this decision as a test case before more families are affected.”

Ward concluded with a direct challenge: “Now that this has been brought to your attention, will the Housing Agency and the Minister exercise their power to stop this flawed method, review the decision, and protect homeowners rather than forcing avoidable harm?”

If you are a homeowner who has been refused access to the redress scheme, please contact Deputy Ward’s office on 07491 30207 or email: charles.ward@oireachtas.ie