Councillor tells of 'anguish' as elderly parents leave crumbling home
Thousands of homes in the Republic of Ireland, mostly in counties Donegal, Clare, Limerick, Mayo and Sligo are affected by the defective blocks.
A Donegal County Councillor, Ali Farren, a member of the 100% Redress Party, has shared the "anguish" of relocating his elderly parents from their crumbling home in Malinhead. The house, built for their retirement, is slated for demolition due to defective concrete blocks.
Farren's 85-year-old mother, who has dementia, and his 84-year-old father, who cares for her, have moved into another property. The councillor highlighted the particular difficulty of the move for his mother, as even minor changes in her environment can be unsettling due to her dementia. He described the extensive planning required for their new sleeping arrangements.
Speaking on BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, Farren explained that his parents had anticipated enjoying their retirement in the property, which was constructed in 2007 and boasts a "beautiful location looking out over the pier." He recounted the emotional experience of moving them out on Sunday, noting that this situation is affecting "hundreds of others in the area."
The issue of defective concrete blocks impacts thousands of homes across the Republic of Ireland, predominantly in counties Donegal, Clare, Limerick, Mayo, and Sligo. These blocks contain water-absorbing minerals, such as pyrite, which cause bricks to crack and, in some cases, necessitate demolition.
A government scheme, introduced in November 2021, offers homeowners affected by these defective blocks up to €420,000 (£357,500) per home.
Farren emphasized that the emotional toll extends to the wider family, observing the "anguish" and "emotion" felt by his grandchildren as they assisted with the move. He revealed that his own home and his sister's are also affected by the defective blocks. He recounted the emotional experience of moving his sister from her defective home in December, noting that moving elderly parents presents even greater challenges.
Despite the personal nature of the situation, Farren stated he is "not one bit embarrassed" to speak publicly, asserting that his parents "done nothing wrong" and simply purchased "unregulated" concrete products. He cautioned that without more stringent testing measures, the same problem could recur, potentially leading to future demolitions if "products that are fit for purpose" are not used.
BBC News NI has reached out to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the Republic of Ireland for comment.