'Mica' stigma a 'major problem' for Donegal properties - McDermott
Donegal is dealing with a 'major problem,' due to stigma associated with the word 'mica,' in connection to defective homes, it has been said.
Councillor Martin McDermott said that 'mica' is still wrongly being blamed for causing defective concrete.
This is despite the science showing that internal sulfate attack caused by iron sulfides is the reason for the damage.
The Fianna Fail councillor said that houses are not being sold due to concern surrounding the term 'mica home'.
"There is a major problem with houses not being able to be sold, because people make a comment saying: 'That has has mica,' when that doesn't match the science at all with defective homes."
An initial theory, which has now been moved away from, attributed the cracking and crumbling of houses to muscovite mica.
The mica freeze-thaw theory was proposed by a government report published in 2017 and incorporated into the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) testing and remediation standard.
Councillor Martin McDermott.
However, five years ago, leading defective blocks investigator Professor Paul Dunlop and Swiss concrete scientist Dr Andreas Leemann first began examining whether the damage to Donegal homes was being caused by pyrrhotite and internal sulfate attack, rather than mica.
The groundbreaking research informed the revised standard published by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) in June
Following this, the Government is reviewing the operation of the Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 and how it interacts with the newly-updated scientific testing standard.
Despite the research and the revised standard, the word 'mica' is sometimes still used to refer to defective blocks, which Cllr McDermott stressed is incorrect.
"We have an issue with people being told they can't get a mortgage on a house that has 4 or 5% mica.
"It is not scientifically proven that your house, with 4 or 5% mica is defective. We don't use the word 'mica' anymore when speaking about these homes.
"The science has told us otherwise.
"But, the use of the word 'mica' is damaging to property values or to people trying to get insurance or wanting to sell etc."
Colr McDermott said the DCB banking and insurance lobby have long campaigned for this issue to be dealt with.
"In my opinion, the Department hasn't done enough in recognising this issue.
"When the scheme and IS465 is updated and taken into legislation, there has to be clear guidance for banks and estate agents, insurers, auctioneers, homeowners and all relevant agencies, so that all organisations are on the same page on this.
"They're going to have to say - 'these are the standards and perimeters you are working to, this is what you can insure for, what we expect for this house being sold, etc.
"The guidance has to come from the top down. From the Minister down to all of those agencies. It can't be any other way."
"The department has been lacking in addressing this."
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