Defective Concrete Blocks Social Homes Scheme 2026: Motion
Seanad Éireann — 2026-09-30
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Eileen Flynn (IND), Administrative Panel

The defective concrete blocks social homes scheme 2026 represents a long overdue acknowledgment of a real injustice to families. Last week, members of a group representing Donegal crèches and childcare facilities held an excellent event in Buswells about the need for childcare in Donegal and in rural communities. There are more than 25 childcare facilities in Donegal - the ones we know of - impacted by defective concrete. My two wee girls go to the local crèche in Ardara. The children's biggest worry is that the crèche is going to fall down. We all had conversations with our children about the defective concrete in it. Billie and Lacey always ask me about when the crèche is going to be knocked. The kids are constantly worried about the crèche. It is a great facility that holds 40-odd children. The women work brilliantly with the children. It is the heart of the community in Ardara, especially for working parents. President Connolly came to visit the crèche in February. Deputy Charlie Ward and his county councillors have been to the crèche in Ardara. I do not know all the ins and outs of the 25 crèches. I am only speaking to the one that I know best. Genuinely, those childcare workers are plastering that building together themselves nearly every week. That is unsafe.
Today, I invite the Minister of State to take a trip to the crèche in Ardara to see for himself the level of danger. The children are safe. It is not going to fall down overnight - I hope not anyway - but he needs to come down and see it with his own eyes.
When we talk about the redress schemes, in my opinion, what is being done is that the people who bought their homes are getting the redress scheme, and rightly so. Deputy Ward and the county councillors worked very hard on redress. There is no redress for social housing and Traveller accommodation in Donegal, crèches and some of the schools.
What is the Department going to do with the education facilities that are impacted by mica? If this was in Dublin, it would be seen as a crisis. Since it is rural Donegal, it is not seen as a crisis. We have got a housing crisis not only in Dublin but in Donegal, too. Social housing and council housing in Donegal did not even get a proper look in when it came to redress, and some of the Traveller accommodation in Donegal is impacted by mica as well.
Of course, they are not included in the redress scheme. I look forward to some of the Minister of State’s feedback around social housing, the Traveller accommodation and, most importantly right now for me as a working mother, the safety of my children and other children in the crèche in Ardara. I would really love for the Minister of State to come and visit the crèche and see with his own two eyes. If he could accept that invitation, it would be a step forward for the childcare workers in Donegal. There are 25 crèches. We are coming together in a few weeks - I hope before Christmas - to come up with a solution and see what we can do collectively in getting new buildings, etc., for facilities because we do not want to lose the crèche in our local community. It would be brilliant if the Minister of State could take up the invitation and work with us going forward on a good redress scheme that includes everybody.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-09-30/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-10-05T01:00:59+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-30