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

First, the defective block scheme, as the Deputy knows, is an Exchequer and Government commitment in the region of €2.7 billion to assist homeowners in need of help in affected counties. We needed to underpin that with legislation. I also want to say to the Deputy that the mistakes of the first defective concrete blocks scheme need to be learned. They were set up under regulations and not on a sound basis under legislation. I have said to the Construction Defects Alliance that we will need legislation.

On the Deputy’s specific question around timeframes, I intend to bring options for financial assistance and for how this scheme would operate this year. I will stay in touch, as I have done regularly, with the Construction Defects Alliance and with other stakeholders. I am committed to helping in this space. The Deputy is right; I know thousands of homeowners and I have met with them in my own constituency and right across the country. This Government will help. I ask - I know in fairness that heretofore in relation to defects we have had this - for a constructive approach from all of us, because all of us want this rectified. I will not be dragging my feet on this, but we have to get the scheme right. I have to bring forward options that to get agreement in government as to what we can do.

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