I welcome the inclusion of County Wexford in the scheme for homes affected by defective blocks, which are unmortgageable, uninsurable and unsellable. I was on Wexford County Council in 2022 when a motion was passed in light of concerns raised by people in the areas of Bunclody and Ferns. Sean and Rachel Murphy first noticed small cracks in their brand-new homes near Ferns six months after they moved in 19 years ago. Due to the nature of mica, it took a few more years for them to realise the scale of the problem. Sean says it is almost like an earthquake took place underneath the house. Another victim noted that on seeing the report, an official commented that the house was pretty much made with river mud. These blocks were made by an unregulated concrete industry and passed off as meeting EU quality standards. I advise homeowners who suspect that they have defective blocks to engage with Wexford County Council and, potentially, to seek independent advice as they can be very difficult to detect. I reiterate Deputy Ó Broin's points that we need 100% redress. Nothing less than that will do.

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