Housing Minister Gordon Lyons has informed the Northern Ireland Assembly that eight cases of defective concrete blocks exist in the Derry and Strabane area. Six of these cases involved social housing properties that a provider has fixed. The remaining two cases affected private dwellings remedied by their owners.

Foyle MLA Mark H. Durkan raised the matter through an Assembly Question. Lyons responded that the low number of cases points to no systemic problem with concrete blocks across Northern Ireland. He added that this scale does not justify a redress scheme currently.

Nearly two years prior, Derry City and Strabane District Council identified seven cases: six social homes and one private property. The total has risen only to eight since then.

Lyons noted ongoing work by his officials with local stakeholders. These include Derry City and Strabane District Council and elected representatives. Officials have also contacted the affected resident.

Contacts extend across borders to the Irish Ministry for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. They have engaged the Housing Agency, which runs the redress scheme in the Republic of Ireland. UK Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government officials have participated too. Such discussions have occurred over the last three years.