Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In this unprecedented cost-of-living crisis, we all know there are certain individuals and families who are living in particular fear - fear about safety in their homes and fear about the cost of remedying defects in the construction of their homes. Last month, for example, I heard from a mother who informed me that the possibility of her daughter progressing to third level education had been cast into doubt because of the cost to the family of having to fix the defects in their defectively built apartment to ensure it is made compliant with fire safety regulations.

We understand the working group on defective homes will be completing its report next week, but we also understand it will have found that up to 100,000 apartments have been affected by fire safety and other defects, with up to 44,000 apartments in the process of being remediated right now. We understand properties in every county in Ireland are affected by construction defects, with a particularly acute problem in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Dublin South-Central, Dublin Bay North and Dublin Fingal. Indeed, in my constituency of Dublin Bay South I have heard from some people who are affected too and I have met members of the Construction Defects Alliance. I have heard great fears expressed by individuals and families. There is the fear of debt due to the cost of fixing the defects, but also a fundamental fear about safety in their homes, primarily due to fear of fire because these homes were defectively built.

I understand the working group is concerned that vital safety works on the apartments, which is ongoing, might stall or be deferred pending any new developments, causing unnecessary risk to the health and safety of the tens of thousands of families and individuals living in those apartments. We know that vital safety works must continue and that people must be supported to ensure they do continue.

Will budget 2023 include measures to support people living in homes where there are these construction defects? For example, will the budget include 100% refundable tax credits for owner-occupiers who have paid already or who are paying ongoing levies for the remediation of defects in their apartments? Some building management companies will allow for the cost of compliance works to be paid in instalments, but that is not the case for everyone. Many of those who have already been charged with the cost of remediating their apartments say they are unable to pay and have been dealt intimidating legal notices and even threats to put attachment orders on their property.

It amounts to a life of fear for the many people affected. It is hard to exaggerate the scale of this pending crisis, which has been somewhat under the radar until now but which I believe will be highlighted by the forthcoming report. It has certainly been highlighted to me by the people I have met. They are in fear. They are in fear of increased insurance costs. Those who wish to sell their homes, perhaps because their families have grown and the apartments are no longer big enough, are forced to stay in unsuitable spaces that are far too small. They simply cannot move on from an apartment that was built defectively and for which an outstanding cost for remediation still exists. Lenders will not allow the taking out of mortgages on defective properties, so the prospect of selling is a real challenge.

What will the Tánaiste and the Government do? Will the Tánaiste give a commitment to ensure the budget will address this and guarantee support for those who are so adversely affected?

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