Thousands of families in Donegal and Mayo who say their houses are falling down around them because of the use of Mica in construction blocks are to march on the Dáil next Tuesday demanding full redress.
Some 7,000 people have been impacted by the issue, with videos of the walls of houses literally crumbling away causing shock on social media, while schools and community centres have also been impacted.
The State of This House Build In #Donegal.
I would Cry My Eyes Out. 😲😭
This is going on 10 years now. They Cassidy's opened a new quarry and never tested the quality. It was around 70% #mica The Company is still being used by the government & many new builds ~ calebmacdonncha pic.twitter.com/MfiFdJlzWB— Siobhán Nì hÈ ☘️ (@SibhHean) May 28, 2021
Some families have been forced to leave their homes because of safety concerns.
Campaigners say people are distressed and angry that a redress scheme for homes affected by Mica does not compensate them fully for the cost of rebuilding.
Inishowen man Paddy Diver said that over 7,000 people were affected and that the government should be ashamed to leave families in dire straits.
Looking at this chimney would give any mother or father severe anxiety
Mica in Donegal is a ticking time bomb and the government are going to drag their heels until someone is injured or killed#MicaRedress #SupportMicaFamilies@LeoVaradkar @FineGael @SimonHarrisTD @yfg pic.twitter.com/rC9hJgQnNm
— Paddy Diver (@PaddyDiver4) June 9, 2021
Large protests involving homeowners and local groups had taken place in Letterkenny and Buncrana in late May, but campaigners now hope their upcoming demonstration at the Dáil will have the necessary effect on politicians.
Big turnout at the Donegal County Council office in Letterkenny for the #Mica protest #boycottcassidys #donegal pic.twitter.com/wBItbm41ET
— James Doherty (@cossiedoc) May 22, 2021
An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said the Cabinet had not made a decision about the extend of the government redress scheme this week, but warned that the cost would be significantly higher for homes affected by mica than those affected by pyrite.
Varadkar also questioned whether the taxpayer should cover the full cost of replacing larger homes.
@cooper_m @DarraghOBrienTD Safe as a house? Not if it was built with defective blocks..Massive scandal unfolding in Donegal. #Mica #micaredress pic.twitter.com/LPHDJWhCfT
— Vincent Grant (@vincentegrant) May 27, 2021