Frustrated defective concrete homeowners ’withdrawing appeals’ and restarting process - Devine - Donegal Daily

Some frustrated defective concrete homeowners are withdrawing from a drawn-out appeals procedure and ’starting the process all over again,’ it has been claimed....

Some frustrated defective concrete homeowners are withdrawing from a drawn-out appeals procedure and 'starting the process all over again,' it has been claimed.

Councillor Tomás Seán Devine told Thursday's meeting of Donegal County Council's Defective Concrete Block Committee that he also believes that the appeal process 'needs to be done away with and people given their original option'.

Cllr Devine's party colleague, 100% Redress Party Councillor Joy Beard, also told the meeting that the department confirmed there have been 154 appeals, specifically related to downgrading.

Cllr Beard highlighted how some homeowners entered the scheme in 2020 and 2021 and are still in the midst of the appeals process.

"People's lives are on hold - since 2020 and 2021, they are no further forward."

Cllr Beard outlined how the houses have 'deteriorated further' in those five years.

She said other homeowners given a downgraded remediation option are also having to choose between accepting it, appealing it or waiting on the outcome of the Government review of the I.S465 standard.

Cllr Beard said there are also questions over whether homes that have been waiting for many years will be reassessed and prioritised once that review is complete.

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She said these questions are being asked while people still don't have a timescale for the completion of the Government review.

Colr Devine said people are withdrawing from the appeals process and 'starting the process all over again'.

He continued: "Is there a way of getting them fast-tracked and moved up the ladder? We are dealing with families who have been in this process since 2020. I think the appeals process needs to be done away with and people given back their original option.