Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Regarding that report, there was also a response on today's correspondence list to recommendations in the committee's report on the 2019 appropriation account for Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government, and related financial matters. That is No. R1465, as members will see. Although it was not flagged, there are a number of issues members might wish to consider proposing that the committee follow up on.

In that context, No. R1465 is correspondence from the Secretary General of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage dated 15 September. It provides a progress update on the implementation of recommendations in our previous report on the examination of the Department's accounts. Members will recall this. There are a few areas which, with members' agreement, we might follow up on. Recommendation 2 in the report notes the impact that the pyrite remediation scheme and the defective concrete blocks grant scheme will have on the Exchequer and recommends the creation of an independent building standards regulator and the re-establishment of the Building Regulations Advisory Body. Progress appears to be slow, and we might request confirmation that it remains the intention to establish a building standards regulator as well as a detailed note on the work involved in re-establishing the advisory board and the reason for the delay. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Recommendation 3 in the report concerned HomeBond. It requested a timeline and quarterly progress updates on recouping the full amount due to HomeBond. I propose that we request confirmation that the proposed agreement with HomeBond will ensure the payment of the full liability due from the insurer and that we follow up with the Housing Agency if we do not receive a further update by November. Is that agreed? Agreed.