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Pringle asks Taoiseach whether there will be a public inquiry on council mica operations
- Updated: 23rd November 2021
Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, has asked the Taoiseach if the Government will establish a public inquiry into the operations of Donegal County Council in relation to mica.
Addressing the Dáil today during Questions on Promised Legislation, Deputy Pringle said: “As those affected by mica in Donegal and elsewhere face further delays in your Cabinet agreeing a proper and functional redress scheme, we are hit with further revelations about the entangled relationship of Donegal County Council and the quarry site that produced the mica-riddled blocks and also the purchase of mica-affected houses in Buncrana.
“As reported last week in the local media in Donegal, ‘Donegal County Council knew in early November 2019 the properties in An Crannla contained mica. However, this fact was not communicated to the Department of Housing and it is unclear whether or not it was communicated to the council’s solicitors,’” he said.
The deputy said that it also now appears that some quarry sites may not have had the proper planning permission, or at the very least lacked proper enforcement of planning conditions by the county council, yet they were a major supplier to the council over the years.
Deputy Pringle said: “One hundred per cent redress is needed Taoiseach, but also accountability. If we are to learn, we need transparency as to how this all was allowed to happen.”
He asked: “Will your government legislate to establish a public inquiry into the operations of Donegal County Council in relation to the mica saga?”
