Concerns raised over 'lack of progress' with Defective Concrete Block Scheme
No communication has been received by homeowner groups from the Department of Housing since November last year
Concerns have been raised regarding the 'lack of progress' with the enhanced Defective Concrete Block Scheme.
Redress campaigners have slammed the Government over its handling of the scheme and a lack of communication with homeowner representatives.
In a joint statement issued by homeowner representatives in Donegal, Mayo, Limerick and Clare accused the Government of engaging in 'a strategic ploy' to leave affected homeowners in a state of limbo.
Campaigners revealed that following talks with the Department of Housing on November 22 last year, the department would provide actionable updates in several areas, including:
• Written confirmation from the Minister that the Department will engage in genuine and consultative dialogue during any review process of regulations with Homeowner Representatives.
• Confirmation the Minister would ensure updated SCSI figures (including for the two new counties of Clare & Limerick) to be ready for the launch of the new scheme.
• Confirmation that all Insurance/Financial bodies will sign off on any letter of assurance/ certification issued as part of the Enhanced Defective Concrete Block scheme.
• A timeline for the roll out of the Enhanced Defective Concrete Block scheme.
• Confirmation on who is the main body responsible for Housing (both temporary and emergency) and what is the plan to accommodate thousands of displaced families in this crisis.
• An update on why the SEAI is not accepting applications from defective concrete homeowners including confirmation that all homeowners progressing on the existing scheme will be paid in full in retrospect.
A deadline for December 2, 2022 was assigned for a response to the above questions and despite numerous requests for responses to the above questions, no communication has been received by campaigners.
The homeowner representatives also revealed that following briefing meetings with the Councils of each of the four counties in November 2022, assurances were also given that the new scheme would be running by Quarter 1, 2023, and that stakeholder consultations regarding regulations would include input from homeowner representative groups.
As of today, none of these promises have been delivered on they said.
"The Minister is still unable to confirm a date when the enhanced scheme will be operational, and homeowners may apply," the joint statement reads.
"There is now a real concern that those who are suffering in defective concrete homes are being deprioritised, while the Department of Housing deal with additional crises Government has created from lack of regulations, failure to build housing capacity and inadequately support and plan.
"The ongoing stalling of this scheme seems a strategic ploy by Government, to leave those suffering this crisis in extended, prolonged and indefinite limbo. Through each stage of the DCB campaign, homeowners in each of the impacted counties have been subjected to years of distress, delay and destruction of not only their homes, but also their personal, professional and family lives.
"They have been subjected to punitive qualification regimes, financially and technically non-sensical, non solutions, and the disastrous physical and mental health impacts of a governmental response that has aggravated as opposed to solve the crisis."
The statement continued: "There is no project plan in place to roll out the Enhanced Defective Concrete Block Scheme, leaving
the homeowner under significant pressure to not only go into debt due to the shortfalls of the scheme but to secure an engineer, source a builder and locate rental accommodation in the middle of a housing crisis.
"An opportunity has been provided to the Local Authorities/ Dept. of Housing to build modular homes to house families needing to move out while building work is ongoing and then repurpose in the longer term to assist the homeless crisis - but this has been shot down.
"Homeowners across the affected counties have campaigned and protested for a solution that will allow them to rebuild their homes with zero defects. Through each stage of the campaign homeowners have, been met with delay after delay, prohibitive tactic after prohibitive tactic.
"In recent days we have become aware of Minister Darragh O’Brien’s intention to provide 100% Redress for the defective apartments. While we stand in solidarity with homeowners impacted by this issue, it is vital to highlight the continuous discrimination towards the Defective Concrete Homeowners.
"A defect is a defect regardless of type or scale.
"In comparison to the speedy and non-prohibitive response to this Building Defects crisis, this is more than an urban and rural divide, it is about a Government prioritising large vested financial interests and property holdings first - ensuring any defects in this area are immediately fixed, without protest, without the toxic narrative of maligning those who are innocent in this scandal and without the pretence of doing something to right a wrong, while in fact doing nothing at all.
"Immediate action is now needed by the Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien, which includes fulfilling his promise to roll out of the Enhanced Defective Concrete Block scheme in Quarter 1 2023, to enable homeowners who are living in dangerous, crumbling, damp, cold and condemned homes to get on with their lives after 10 years of campaigning."