The Green Party has hit out at the government for "doing nothing" to help homeowners with legacy building defects as a result of failures in building regulation.

The call comes as homeowners are now facing bills of up to €30,000 to rectify issues.

Deputy leader Catherine Martin said the homeowners feel "lost and abandoned".

She said: "I have called on the Taoiseach to meet with these homeowners, to see first-hand the nightmare they are dealing with, through no fault of their own. Unfortunately, the Taoiseach's response was as disappointing as Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy's, who failed to reply to my request for a meeting. It is clear that the Government have no intention of helping these homeowners in distress.

-- Advertisement --

"This problem will not go away. There are tens of thousands of properties affected by defects, nationwide. They have no remedies, and nowhere to turn for homeowners who find themselves in this awful situation, and it's up to the Government to take action.

"Practical, reasonable measures which could ease the burden on homeowners include relief on income tax for work to be carried out, a suspension of Local Property Tax, creating a loan fund for those who cannot pay or VAT relief along the lines of the Home Renovation Initiative. The Government has completely refused to consider helping these homeowners in any way."

(CD/LM)