Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue, which I am acutely aware of and in respect of which I have been heavily engaged. Last year, one of the first trips I took as Minister was to County Donegal. The Deputy was in attendance and we met residents in Buncrana. I went visit to homeowners at the time. I have been to visit homeowners in County Clare. This is a scheme I inherited. It was put in place in January or February 2020 and the Government and I have committed to improving it.

I genuinely thank the homeowners and their representatives for their serious engagement and the time and effort they have given voluntarily to the working group process I established following the protests in the summer.

They have engaged honestly although it has been difficult. My officials have engaged and I have also brought in the Housing Agency which will play a very important role in this. We are committed to enhancing the scheme and have made progress already. I assure Deputy Mac Lochlainn that I am not going to delay on it. I acknowledge the input to the process of my colleagues in government, both Deputies and Senators, and of Deputy Mac Lochlainn's party colleagues.

It is an absolute tragedy that people's homes are crumbling and we want to help to resolve that. When I met the group on 29 September, the day before the working group report was published, I said very clearly that the scheme that the previous Government instituted had not worked as intended, although many people gave that scheme a guarded welcome at the time. I said in Buncrana in August 2020 that all schemes evolve and change and I was committed to making sure that this happens. We have some work to do and are doing it right now. The working group report was published and I circulated it to Opposition spokespeople seeking their input. The next step is to work through options and bring proposals to the three party leaders and my Cabinet colleagues. The Government will make a decision in due course.

I respect the right of people to protest and have always done so. I gave an indicative timeline to the residents when I met them on 29 September and told them that my work would not be concluded by 8 October. In fairness, they realised and accepted that and we had a good and open discussion on it. I advise the House that we have made progress in some very significant areas already and it is important that this is recognised. Progress has been made on the issues of certification, people having recourse back to a scheme should work be done, planning exemptions and upfront costs.

Very significant changes have been proposed already and I have said that nothing, including the caps or 100% redress, is off the table. I need a Government decision on that. I will be bringing option papers to the Government in the coming days and then the Cabinet will make a decision. I will continue to engage with representatives from the affected counties on defective blocks. I have visited other counties which are also making submissions to my Department. Whatever changes we make are going to require underpinning by way of legislation because we cannot just keep changing this by way of regulation.

This is a very serious issue for thousands of families. I have met them and Deputy Mac Lochlainn represents them. I fully understand the stress and trauma they continue to go through. One of the first things I did when I became Minister was to visit Donegal to discuss the previous scheme with the residents. We are close to bringing forward significant enhancements which I have to work through. Obviously, the House, Deputy Mac Lochlainn, his party and others, including my Government colleagues, will be advised on that in the coming weeks.

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