A group of homeowners from Donegal are protesting at the Department of Housing’s headquarters in Dublin today over the downgrading of remediation grants.
Today’s protest marks an escalation in efforts by families demanding answers from Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien and accountability from the Housing Agency over downgrade decisions made on the remediation option provided for their homes under the government’s scheme.
The protest follows a series of complaints sent by homeowners over the past two weeks, challenging the Housing Agency’s failure to consider pyrrhotite—a mineral scientifically linked to destructive Internal Sulfate Attack (ISA) in concrete—in its assessments.
Homeowners argue that pyrrhotite has been disregarded in downgrade decisions, leading to less comprehensive repair options.
They are appealing for GSI-commissioned scientific research to be noted as the cause of crumbling homes, rather than the outdated theory of mica and freeze/thaw.
Homeowners have also expressed dissatisfaction with the new independent appeals panel set up last month.
Angela Ward, PRO of the Mica Action Group, said: “We are here today because homeowner grievances demand substantive responses, not generic, boilerplate replies that fail to address our critical concerns. This disregard for scientific evidence and legal mandates not only places lives on hold but also erodes public trust in our institutions.”
The Ministerial Guidelines for the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme states that “the Housing Agency will, in their analysis and deliberations, take into consideration the presence of pyrrhotite”.
Homeowners are now calling on Minister O’Brien to step in and ensure that the Housing Agency follows its legally mandated responsibilities.
“We have sent email after email, raising these issues and requesting action, yet we receive nothing but hollow responses that dodge accountability,” added Marti McElhinney, spokesperson for the Downgraded Homeowners Group. “Minister O’Brien needs to show leadership and intervene to put an end to these legally flawed decisions.”