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New research suggests that between 31,000 and 51,000 homes in Donegal could be affected by defective concrete, according to Charles Ward TD, who has warned that the scale of the crisis may be significantly greater than previously understood.
The single-issue 100% Redress Party TD made the claim while speaking to reporters Leinster House, where he outlined findings he said were based on research carried out by scientist Chris Brough of Petrolab.
Ward said official estimates focusing on housing estates in Donegal point to around 12,000 affected homes. He argued that the true figure rises substantially when social housing and one-off homes built during the Celtic Tiger era are included.
According to Ward, approximately 2,500 social homes in Donegal may also be affected. He said the large number of one-off houses constructed during the boom years could bring the overall total to between 31,000 and 51,000 properties.
“It would indicate that the figure will be in and around between 31,000 and 51,000 homes affected with defective concrete,” he said.
Ward claimed the findings would come as a “considerable shock” to Government and argued that the issue extends far beyond Donegal.
He said research has so far been concentrated in Donegal, but maintained that defective concrete has been identified in counties across Ireland.
“Donegal was the first, but by no means the last,” he said.
The TD called for a Government-led remediation programme and said current efforts were not keeping pace with the scale of the problem.
He told reporters that only around 300 homes had been rebuilt or repaired in Donegal over the past three years. Based on current delivery rates, he claimed it could take centuries to address the full extent of the crisis if his projections prove accurate.
Ward urged ministers to establish what he described as an end-to-end scheme, potentially modelled on an Office of Public Works approach, to oversee remediation and rebuilding works.
He also called for stronger safeguards and testing procedures within quarries to prevent similar problems occurring in the future.
The 100% Redress Party is expected to bring a motion before the Dáil on the issue of defective foundations and is seeking further Government action in response to the emerging research.
During the event, Ward said many affected homeowners had spent years paying mortgages on properties that were no longer fit for purpose.
He warned that the defective concrete crisis could continue for decades and said thousands more homes across the country may ultimately require remediation.
The Government has previously expanded supports for homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks, particularly in Donegal and Mayo. However, campaigners have continued to argue that the current redress scheme does not go far enough and requires further reform.
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