Elderly and vulnerable DCB homeowners 'extremely stressed' - Cllr Beard
100% Redress Party Councillor Joy Beard has said she has been receiving 'more and more very upsetting calls' from elderly homeowners regarding the Enhanced Defective Concrete Block Scheme.
Cllr Beard said the homeowners are 'extremely stressed and anxious' about how they will 'navigate' the scheme.
She, once again, called for an 'end-to-end' scheme to be put in place.
Cllr Beard was responding to 100% Redress Party TD Charles Ward's call in the Dail this week for the Government to 'provide a State-led rebuilding option for vulnerable homeowners who cannot negotiate or navigate the scheme'.
He told the Dail how he is aware of an 82-year-old man in Donegal, living with dementia, who is 'facing a nightmare' in navigating the scheme.
In response, the Taoiseach replied that he will 'certainly' refer the matter to the Minister for Housing.
The Taoiseach told Deputy Ward that 'of course, people should get support in facilitating them to access the scheme, particularly those who are vulnerable and elderly'.
Speaking afterwards, Cllr Beard said that, 'for anyone facing the loss of their home, the process is already overwhelming.'
"But for older and vulnerable people, trying to manage engineers, applications, tenders, builders, payments, temporary accommodation and the rebuilding process can feel completely impossible.
"We need an end-to-end scheme, similar to the Pyrite Remediation Scheme, where a dedicated body takes responsibility for managing the process from start to finish
"I brought this up at the recent meeting with the Department of Housing."
Cllr Beard said the Government must 'recognise the human reality' behind each case.
"No elderly person should be left feeling that they must battle through this alone or that they have no choice but to remain in an unsafe, deteriorating home because the scheme is too difficult to navigate.
"The Government must recognise the human reality behind these cases and put proper practical support in place, especially for our most vulnerable homeowners."
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