Former Fine Gael minister Joe McHugh has not decided whether he will back the government in future Dáil votes after stepping down as party whip.

e Donegal TD clashed with its Coalition colleagues last night as they sought to advance legislation that will underpin a €2.7billion reparations package for owners affected by the mica scandal .

His decision means the government’s TD count has fallen to 79, leaving them far short of a guaranteed majority ahead of the September budget.

Mr. McHugh told the Irish Independent that the people in his constituency were not happy with the project and that he could not tolerate it.

While thanking Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien for trying to devise a viable programme, he said the decision to limit the Dáil debate last night to just two hours was the final straw for him.

“I’m making this decision with a cool head,” he said, adding that he “couldn’t in good conscience” vote for the bill. Subsequently, he resigned as Fine Gael party whip.

When asked if he would support Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe’s budget in September, the former education minister replied: “I haven’t thought about it until then.”

Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar told TDs and senators last night that he expected the government to be able to rely on Mr McHugh’s vote on issues outside the reparations scheme mica.

Two Green Party TDs are suspended from the government benches until November, meaning the government could be at the mercy of some independent budget TDs.

Parts of Mr McHugh’s constituency have been blighted by the presence of mica in the concrete blocks used in house construction. Many families have thus seen the walls of their properties literally collapse.

There were rowdy scenes in the Dáil last night as some activists sought to express their displeasure at the scheme from the public gallery.

Explaining his vote, Mr McHugh said: ‘I’m talking in particular about people my generation and a bit older. People who are going to have trouble getting an initial loan of €30,000 to €40,000 [to finish a rebuild project].”

He acknowledged Mr O’Brien was rushing the legislation to try to get it through before the Dáil goes into summer recess later this month – but said there had to be changes. “The downsizing was a big deal for me, and I still think it’s unfair for someone who wants to downsize, this unfairness of being penalized… I was very attached to that point, and I’ll keep lifting it.”