Ken O'Flynn: Publish Evidence on Defective Concrete Now
Ken O'Flynn addressed the House on the Defective Concrete Grant Scheme, urging publication of the evidence behind IS4652026 and a clear right for homeowners to opt for full foundation replacement. He highlighted research findings of minerals, early oxidisation and sulphite attacks in affected concrete and warned families could face replacement within 15 to 20 years.
Ken O'Flynn praised Charles Ward for bringing the motion and outlined its three requests: publish the evidence behind IS4652026, give homeowners a clear right to opt for full replacement of their foundations, and commission an independent international scientific review. He asked members of the House to support the motion.
O'Flynn stressed that the research underpinning the standard shows minerals in the concrete, early signs of internal oxidisation and sulphite attacks. He noted the state's own evidence concedes it does not know how these foundations will perform over time.
He warned that families from Donegal along the western seaboard down to Limerick are being asked to make an irreversible choice to retain foundations that may need replacement in 15 to 20 years. O'Flynn argued the state sets the standard and must own the long-term risk it creates.
O'Flynn urged the House to require publication of the evidence, to secure a homeowner right to opt for full replacement, and to commission an independent international review of the science. He framed these steps as fair, necessary and in the public interest.
Summary of the motion
Ken O'Flynn praised Charles Ward for bringing the motion and outlined its three requests: publish the evidence behind IS4652026, give homeowners a clear right to opt for full replacement of their foundations, and commission an independent international scientific review. He asked members of the House to support the motion.
Evidence and risk
O'Flynn stressed that the research underpinning the standard shows minerals in the concrete, early signs of internal oxidisation and sulphite attacks. He noted the state's own evidence concedes it does not know how these foundations will perform over time.
Impact on homeowners
He warned that families from Donegal along the western seaboard down to Limerick are being asked to make an irreversible choice to retain foundations that may need replacement in 15 to 20 years. O'Flynn argued the state sets the standard and must own the long-term risk it creates.
Recommended steps and appeal
O'Flynn urged the House to require publication of the evidence, to secure a homeowner right to opt for full replacement, and to commission an independent international review of the science. He framed these steps as fair, necessary and in the public interest.
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Transcript
Thank you, Chairperson. First of all, could I just congratulate Charles Ward on bringing this motion to the House. I know the tremendous work that Charles has done on redress and I want to acknowledge that here today. Comhairleach, this motion goes to the heart of trust between the state and the homeowners affected by defective concrete. The Defective Concrete Grant Scheme allows foundation to be retained under IS4652026, but the research behind the standard has already been found that minerals have been found in concrete, with early signs of oxidisation internally and sulphite attacks. The state's own evidence admits that it does not have or does not know how these foundations will perform over time. So you're asking families in Donegal and up the western seaboard and down as far as Limerick, you're asking them to take an irreversible decision to retain something that may not, may have to be replaced in 15 to 20 years' time. The state sets a standard, but the state must take ownership of the risk if you're setting the standard. And in fairness to Charles, his motion here is saying, he's calling on three things, which is fair, which is to publish the evidence based behind the IS4652026, to give homeowners a clear right to opt in for a full replacement of foundation, which is fair, which is the right thing to do, and to commission an independent international review with the science. That's the right thing to do. And I'd ask everybody in this house, even though Fianna Fáil hasn't attended the debate and only two Donegal TDs are here, but I would ask everyone in the house to support this motion.