POLITICIANS who don’t support calls for a 100% redress scheme for people whose homes are crumbling due to defective blockwork would not be supported in the next general election, a survey of the affected households has found.
Pressure is mounting on the government to scrap proposed plans for a 90% redress scheme which would see homeowners pay 10% of costs towards remedial works or rebuilding their home.
A survey conducted by the Mica Action Group, formed in Donegal where the majority of the homes impacted by mica have been discovered, said 80% of mica homeowners see the outcome of talks with the government as having “a huge bearing on who they vote for in future elections”.
Thirty five per cent of respondents said they would vote for candidates who had supported their camping for full redress. A further 55 per cent of respondents stated they would support TDs “who would be prepared stand with the people and defy the party whip to vote in favour of 100% redress, should it come that”.
Some homeowners have been living with the nightmare of crumbling blocks for the past decade, across Donegal, Mayo, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Sligo.
“The people who support us and are not afraid to put themselves out there for us are the people I will vote for. Political reps need to drive for 100% redress,” one of respondents told the survey.
“Very disappointed with political reps, 11 years later and they still have nothing done to resolve this crisis. It is difficult to believe the politicians, because so many promises have been made in opposition and then broken once they get into power,” another stated.
Summing up the mood, another respondent stated: “Whoever delivers, gets my vote; it’s my home I need to save. What I want is actual physical, written Dail approved 100% guarantee and 100% redress.”
Michael Doherty, spokesman for the Mica Action Group said: “The mood on the ground amongst affected homeowners, their families and communities is one of intense frustration and anxiety. With the numbers of homes affected growing, this issue is top of mind amongst huge sections of the communities along the West coast.”
“People are scarred by dealing with this issue for years on end, their extended family and friends understand the devastating impact it is having on their lives, unless this is resolved very quickly people will make their feelings very clear next time they are called to the ballot box.”
“The choice for all politicians is stark – fight for your people who need you now, or suffer the consequences next time we go to the polls, your choices now will live long in the electorate’s memory”.
“It can only be hoped that all Oireachtas members recognise the crisis for the national emergency that it is and act with the empathy and urgency required.”
The Government is to receive recommendations from civil servants involved in a working group by the September 30th, and Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien will bring these recommendations to Cabinet for consideration.
The mica action group said that 13 out of 15 coalition TDs in the affected counties had declared their support for a 100% redress scheme. It added that Limerick TDs, Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael, and Brian Leddin, Green Party, had yet to clarify their position.
A spokesman for Deputy O’Donovan said he had “raised the issue of Pyrite in Co Limerick homes” with Minister O’Brien, and that Deputy O’Donovan “stressed the need for a redress scheme to be brought forward and finalised so that residents can move forward”.
Minister O’Donovan and his spokeswoman did not respond to numerous requests seeking clarity on whether or not he supported a 100% redress scheme for mica households.
A response was also awaited from Deputy Leddin.
