Sir, – Whilst few could not but be moved at the plight of the mica damaged homeowners, they are in danger of biting the hand that will potentially feed them.
This is not a problem of Government but a private matter between the homeowners and a plethora of professionals, builders and materials suppliers, and they need to be held accountable. Nonetheless we live in a society and those in trouble through no fault of their own should be given a helping hand.
When someone loses their job, social security steps in. No one expects the taxpayer to replace the full income lost and likewise there has to be a limit to the compensation for the homeowners.
The current cap of €350,000 will provide a home of 2,500sq ft – by any standards and certainly in Dublin, that is a very large family home.
Even on energy conservation terms the idea of building anything bigger flies in the face of our Government’s espoused green credentials.
Just because someone has a 5,000sq ft house doesn’t in anyway obligate taxpayers to replace it. We have a moral obligation to provide an adequate family home, and for most of us that’s under 1,500sq ft.
The insistence on more, egged on by self-serving local politicians risks snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
– Yours, etc,
CHARLES McLAUGHLIN
Portobello,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – Where is Tom Parlon and the Construction Industry Federation now that we need them so badly?
– Yours, etc,
GUS GERAGHTY,
Dalkey, Co Dublin.
Sir, – Why yet again does the public purse have to pay for another cock up by the building industry.
One wonders whether the Construction Industry Federation has any standards for the purchase of raw materials that builders can refer to when buying such mundane things as blocks. A lot of other industries have these standards.
Yet again the homeowner is doing the running on this issue when the law should clearly put this responsibility on the shoulder of the CIF and its members.
The builder bought the faulty blocks after all. All new houses should be structurally guaranteed by the CIF for three years by law. All builders, large and small, must be a member of the CIF. – Yours, etc,
MARY MURPHY,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 11.