The Mica Action Group (MAG) has called on councillors to send a ‘clear and strong message’ to the government for equality for defective concrete homeowners.
MAG made the appeal this week in a letter sent to all 37 Donegal County Councillors.
They were reacting to last week’s confirmation of a fully funded, end to end managed Redress Scheme for the owners of defective apartments built during the Celtic Tiger.
MAG Chair, Lisa Hone, stressed they are glad for the apartment owners and tenants who need defects fixed to ensure their homes are safe and habitable.
“We are, however, astonished at the discriminatory treatment of those living in defective concrete homes,” she added.
The fact, the letter stated, that the wrong done to families in defective concrete homes comes at a higher price to restore than other defects in other types of homes should not penalise the homeowners.
“But, that is effectively what the government is doing by the use of exclusions, caps, grant rates based on obsolete regulations and no scheme support and management structure.
“On behalf of the thousands of people in Donegal affected by defective concrete homes, Mica Action Group, is asking you as elected public representatives to deliver a clear and strong message to the government that all homeowners victim to the regulatory failure of the State deserve equality in the full restoration of their homes.
“As you are aware the 100% Redress campaign group has organised a bus to travel to Leinster House on Wednesday February 8th. We ask that all 37 Donegal County Councillors, no matter what their party-political affiliation, show solidarity with those affected and take this opportunity to demand equality of redress.”
A chart accompanied the letter which sets out clearly the inequalities between the redress scheme announced last week and the enhanced defective concrete blocks scheme passed into legislation in July 2022.