Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy McHugh for keeping this matter consistently on the agenda and doing so in a constructive manner, which is important.

In response to concerns expressed by homeowners and a unanimous motion in the Dáil on defective concrete blocks in Donegal and Mayo, culminating in the June protest march, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy O'Brien, established a time-bound working group to consider the issues raised. In total, eight meetings have taken place over the lifetime of the group and numerous breakout sessions were also facilitated. The last meeting of the working group took place on Wednesday, 29 September, which the Minister attended. He commended the effort of volunteer homeowners and the leadership role they have taken up for the communities they represent. A final output report arising from the engagement of the working group has been published on the Department's website. This includes a submission to the working group from Engineers Ireland, the homeowners' final position paper and the Department's observations.

Following the conclusion of the working group report and building on the cross-party Dáil motion of June 2021, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, wrote to Opposition spokespersons on housing to seek their views and input into potential changes to the scheme. The Minister has sought their views on major documents such as Housing for All, and has accepted Opposition amendments to legislation such as the Land Development Agency Act and the Affordable Housing Act. This initiative by the Minister and the approach he takes have to be commended in terms of trying to garner amendments and changes from Opposition spokespersons to help with the work he is doing. Deliberations and consultations are ongoing in respect of the range of issues identified in the report of the working group, and the Department has engaged with all stakeholders on the matter with a view to ensuring any proposed changes can be implemented as quickly as possible. It should be recognised, however, that the scheme is complex and there will be a lead-in time for implementation, with some potential changes requiring either amending regulations or perhaps new primary legislation.

The Minister intends to bring a memorandum to Government in the immediate term, setting out proposals for improvements to the scheme, its future administration and various other matters raised in the report of the working group. Once the decision on improvements to the scheme is made, further information relating to the sequencing and timelines will be available. Overall, there are three key principles which inform consideration of improvements to the scheme, namely, that they are timely, reasonable and consistent. I believe that is what the Deputy is requesting as well. I am confident the improvements to the scheme can meet these key objectives.

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