Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are not dragging our heels. A lot of intensive work is happening in the background between my officials and the Minister for Finance's officials. We have discussed it at length on a number of occasions. I was recently in Mayo and met people who are affected by this. I thank everyone in Mayo and Donegal for their patience. We announced in the budget last year that there would be a scheme this year, and that it would be open this year with money available. That remains the case. The Ministers, Deputies Ring and McHugh, spoke to the Minister for Finance about the issue this week. We have almost agreed what the scheme will be. We need to make sure that it is right and that we are able to include the people who need to be included so that they can apply to that scheme, draw down the funding and fix their homes. I cannot be definitive about whether it will be later this week or next week. I said to people in Mayo when I met them that a final memorandum would have to go to Cabinet. There is a process involved in doing that that might take one or two more weeks once the final decision is made, but we are nearly there. I thank people, including the Deputy, for their patience.

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