Donegal Deputy Charles Ward is calling for action on processing delays in the defective concrete scheme stemming from Donegal County Council.
The 100% Redress Party representative says that the constant delays in processing paperwork by Donegal County Council are unfairly penalising homeowners, who are having issues maintaining contractors as a result of the delays.
“Contractors are being compelled to take on other jobs due to cash flow issues predominantly arising from council processing delays, which stem from excessive paperwork scrutiny, portal outages, slow claim approvals, and an overwhelming number of further information requests alongside repeated submissions,” Deputy Ward said in a statement.
These delays are then creating a snowball effect for homeowners trying to carry out work on their homes under the defective block scheme, which Deputy Ward says makes the situation worse for all parties involved.
“Homeowners have no control over contractor schedules, and missed trade appointments create a domino effect, worsening the situation for everyone involved. The portal system lacks even basic reminders for key deadlines, leaving homeowners
vulnerable to missing extensions. Builders are abandoning sites due to unpredictable payments, leaving families in difficult situations.”
Deputy Ward is urging Donegal County Council to provide extended timelines for homeowners’ applications, and also to remove what he describes as the “obstructive bureaucracy” that is getting in the way of defective homes being fixed or rebuilt.
“The obstructive bureaucracy and reactive approach are only exacerbating the crisis. How can homeowners realistically adhere to the 78-week commencement timeline or complete their projects within 65 weeks when faced with so many challenges?,” Deputy Ward concluded.
