DCB social homes’ foundation costs ’could cost council €100M’ warns Ward - Donegal Daily

100% Redress Party TD Charles Ward, has warned that it would cost Donegal County Council €100 million to test and replace the foundations of 2,400 defective con...

100% Redress Party TD Charles Ward, has warned that it would cost Donegal County Council €100 million to test and replace the foundations of 2,400 defective concrete social homes.

Deputy Ward was speaking to Donegal Daily ahead of tonight's Dail Eireann debate on the planned Defective Concrete Blocks Social Homes Scheme.

The draft of the scheme outlines how it is similar in nature to the current scheme for private homes.

Like the private scheme, it does not provide for the testing, removal and replacement of foundations of a dwelling.

Deputy Ward said he has calculated that, if Donegal County Council was to go ahead and test and replace foundations at its own cost, it would cost 100 million euro for the estimated 2,400 affected social homes in the county.

He added that testing and replacing the foundations of the 80 defective concrete social homes currently vacant would run also into the millions.

The draft of the new social housing scheme states that will also be made available within the cap of €462,000 for immediate repairs, storage and alternative accommodation.

It is understood that councils and Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) will be responsible for arranging building condition assessments, engaging engineers and contractors and rehousing tenants, where needed.

It is also understood that, following the review of the IS465 standard, which subsequently triggered a mandatory review of the Act and grant scheme, changes to both the private and social homes scheme may be required.

Speaking to Donegal Daily ahead of tonight's Dail Eireann debate, 100% Redress Party TD Charles Ward called the draft a 'lazy document'.

He said he believes the government should wait until the review is concluded.

He said: "I will say this tonight in the Dail, that I find it very lazy.

"We need this over the line, yes, and that is the one positive of it.

"But, why not wait until the government review is finished? Now we will have to wait again.

"I think the timing is scandalous and the document itself looks like it has been copied and pasted from last year.

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"I looked at the briefing notes where it is said they will look at the social and private schemes if amendments have to be made. Why produce something now that is out of date?"

"The council can't move and it's a very unfair position to put them in.

"There is no other Local Authority in this country that is being put under such severe pressure."

Deputy Ward said there must also be proper governance and assessment of local authorities and AHBs in implementing the social housing scheme.

He also stressed that social housing tenants must also have 'a voice' in any new scheme.

He said that modular homes must also be taken into consideration for the relocation of tenants.

Cllr Ward said while it is positive that the scheme is being put forward, it needs to be done properly.

It was confirmed in July that the government had approved a draft scheme for social homes.

It came five years after Donegal County Council formally submitted a plan and formally requested a scheme for social housing tenants to the government.

The motion is due to be debated in Dail Eireann tonight from 5.53pm.

You can watch it live via https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/oireachtas-tv/