Deputy Joe McHugh has said he would consider rejoining the Fine Gael parliamentary party if changes were made to the Mica redress scheme, to avoid penalising homeowners who downsize when rebuilding their homes.
The former Minister for Education said he had been asked to rejoin the parliamentary party, and had been having “high level conversations” on aspects of the redress scheme.
Mr McHugh said to rejoin the party fold he would need a commitment the scheme would be amended to make sure homeowners who wish to downsize when rebuilding homes did not face extra costs as a result.
“In order to come back into the party I would need to see substantial progress on this issue,” he told The Irish Times. “I have been asked to rejoin the party … I would rather be in the party,” he said.
Mr McHugh said he would need a commitment that “no penalty” downsizing would be addressed “immediately”, rather than reviewed at some point down the line.
Last June the Government approved an enhanced €2.7 billion redress scheme, where homeowners would be entitled to 100 per cent grants up to a maximum of €420,000, to rebuild homes affected by the defective blocks.
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