Priory Hall residents: How much longer to resolve debacle?

Residents spokesperson, Graham Usher, has questioned the time the Government has taken to resolve the Priory Hall issue.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny said it would be a complete injustice to expect the residents of Priory Hall in Dublin to pay mortgages and interest on homes they will never live in.

Speaking in Cork earlier, Mr Kenny said he would do something about the situation but he needed more time to get clarity on the best course of action.

Up to 249 residents at the apartment complex in Doneghamede were forced to leave their homes almost two years ago due to fire safety concerns.

Since then they have been living in temporary accommodation.

The Taoiseach has vowed to do something about the debacle which he's described as 'the worst of what happened during the so-called Celtic Tiger years".

He said: "When you can see what happened in our country over many years where banks, developers and others were helped in so many ways, I think it would be an injustice, a complete injustice, to have these people expected to pay mortgages and interest on houses that they will never live in."

However, Mr Usher, said the Taoiseach has had two years to come up with a solution to this problem.

He said: "He has made a commitment, but the question is 'how long is some time?'

"There's a resolution process that's been going on for 16 months now and it was supposed to last three months.

"AIB effectively said they didn't see the mediation working and they were going their own way. I had one of my neighbours who has an Ulster Bank mortgage on to me just a few minutes ago and she was close to tears.

"She was following the Ulster Bank CEO's comments online which effectively seemed to be saying they are treating their Priory Hall customers just as anyone else who is in arrears."