Search
06 Sept 2025
Search
06 Sept 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
Building affected by mica
The Mica Redress Scheme is a programme designed to help homeowners whose houses were built with defective blocks containing mica, a type of mineral.
The scheme offers grants to cover the costs of repairs or building.
The scheme was officially launched in 2020, in response to widespread concerns about homes built with the blocks, particularly in County Donegal.
The scheme is currently available in counties Donegal, Mayo, Clare and Limerick, and Sligo was added to the scheme on October 23 of this year.
Concerns have been raised in Leitrim County Council following cases of houses affected by mica in North Leitrim.
Cllr Felim Gurn proposed a motion calling on Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien TD to include Leitrim on the Mica Redress Scheme.
“The Mica Redress Scheme has been extended to include Sligo. There are a number of cases in North Leitrim that have been affected by mica,” Cllr Gurn said.
“Homeowners are facing financial burden and stress seeing their homes crumble in front of their eyes, therefore I ask Minister Darragh O’Brien to include Leitrim in the redress scheme so affected homeowners can qualify for grants they need,” he continued.
“I became aware of a home in Manorhamilton affected about a year ago and Cllr Justin Warnock is aware of a case in Tullaghan.”
Cllr Warnock said there are potentially two cases of houses affected by mica in Tullaghan.
“Writing to the Minister is one thing, but the Council has to be on board. The houses have to be identified,” Cllr Warnock said.
Cllr Gurn’s motion was met with widespread support.
“There is an issue here,” said Cllr Pádraig Fallon. “I think there should be a national scheme. We’ve known that it's been an issue for a number of years.
“There shouldn’t be a need for local authorities to write to the Minister to seek inclusion of their county on the scheme,” he commented.
“All that is needed or should be needed, is to put up proof that a house is badly damaged by mica and there should be no discrimination against any or all people that are affected,” Cllr Guckian added.
READ MORE: Leitrim County Council seeks to reinstate trolley service on Sligo train line
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
