Pearse Doherty: Scale of defective concrete crisis could yield future State apology

Pearse Doherty has predicted that a State apology will be issued to homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks at some point in the future.

Deputy Doherty, the Sinn Féin spokesperson on finance, has said that affected families are enduring “emotional torture” and has criticised the government's handling of the redress scheme.

The Donegal TD was responding to a question from an audience member at the MacGill Summer School in Glenties on Saturday afternoon. The west Donegal politician said that he believes a 100% redress scheme will not happen under the current government.

“It is absolutely appalling what is happening,” Mr Doherty said.

“This is a nightmare for families here. This isn't just about crumbling blocks. Their mental health is breaking down, their health is breaking down, their families are breaking down. This is emotional torture on large sections of communities.

“There will be reports written on this in the future. They are not guilty for what is happening to their homes.

“They are victims and there will be apologies at a point in time that the State didn't do the right thing.”

Thousands of homes across Donegal are blighted by defective concrete. Mr Doherty said that families just want to “build their homes and build their lives”.

Online platform The Ditch recently revealed correspondence from the former Attorney General, Paul Gallagher, who suggested measures to reduce the number of applicants, limit the state’s financial exposure and help ensure claims were kept as low as possible.

Mr Gallagher, who stepped down as attorney general in 2022, wrote that it would be imperative to ensure applicants could only avail of “the least costly option”.

He is also said to have suggested that the scheme to compensate those affected would “lead to significant abuse” from applicants.

Mr Doherty has been deeply critical of the contents of the correspondence and said it “shows very clearly” where the government stands on the issue of redress.

Mr Doherty pointed to Deputy Joe McHugh resigning the Fine Gael whip in 2022 when he voted against the proposed redress legislation. Deputy McHugh made a series of requests that related to no-penalty downsizing, excluding foundations and the transfer of eligibility.

“There are a lot of people who think the issue is resolved,” Mr Doherty said.

“The issue is not resolved. I raised this issue with Micheál Martin last week. He talked about providing 100% redress and I know in every single family, sitting in their homes listening to a government minister saying that, it is like an attack on them because it is not true.

“There are so, so many people who are locked out of the scheme because they can't rebuild their homes. It is not 100%.”