Mica: Crumbling homes redress scheme could cost more than €3.2bn

Mica absorbs water which can lead to walls cracking

A remediation scheme for homeowners caught up in the mica scandal could cost more than €3.2bn (£2.72bn), the Irish government has been told.

The figure is contained in a report from a working group set up to consider how to provide redress for homeowners.

About 6,000 Irish homes have crumbled because of mica, a mineral which absorbs water, causing walls to crack.

Campaigners have called on government to fully compensate mica-affected home owners.

The working group report noted the overall cost of the scheme was expected to rise from its current €1.4bn (£1.2bn) to the new figure of €3.2bn.

The report stated this was on the basis of capital works and associated costs only.

It does not "take account of the potential costs for other items homeowners have sought, such as compensation" the report said.

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Irish Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien is to consider the working group's report and due to bring a memo to cabinet in the coming weeks.

'Lacking in detail'

Responding to the report on Friday, Eileen Doherty from the Mica Action Group told RTE News that it was "lacking in detail, and depth and is very vague".

The group has been campaigning on behalf of homeowners for years and is insisting that any scheme must provide 100% redress for homeowners.

Ms Doherty told the Irish broadcaster that the report made no reference to the need for a public inquiry and makes clarifications rather than recommendations.

"It would seem they aren't going to recommend 100% (redress) so we would absolutely not support that," she said.

Up to 5,700 houses across counties Donegal and Mayo have been falling apart because of the presence of Mica.

Michael Doherty, who is also from the action group, said the report seemed to focus on the "least cost options" and said the price cap would leave behind 80% of affected homeowners.

"Homeowners affected by the defective blocks are adamant there has to be 100% redress," he said.

Mr Doherty confirmed that group is planning to go ahead with a major protest in Dublin next Friday.

Campaigners have insisted on 100% redress for homeowners affected by defective blocks

In 2016, an expert panel was set up to investigate problems with homes affected by blocks containing mica and another mineral, pyrite.

That followed years of campaigning and led, in 2019, to the Irish government approving a €20m (£17.2m) repair scheme.

But in the years since, many homeowners now see the scheme as not fit for purpose, given it still requires homeowners to contribute 10% of the cost of repairs.

In June, as thousands protested in Dublin, Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin said what had happened to people's homes was "scandalous and devastating".

He said the Irish government will "do everything it can" to help people whose homes have crumbled because of mica.

Campaigners protested again in Dublin on Thursday.