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

As the Deputy will know, the programme for Government sets out a commitment to examine defects in housing having regard to the joint Oireachtas committee report, Safe as Houses, and to assist owners of latent defect properties by identifying the options for those affected by defects and what those financial options would be. In response, in February 2021, I established a working group to examine the matter. As the Deputy will know, the group was chaired by former Donegal County Council CEO Seamus Neely and included stakeholders who did good work and set the terms of reference. I got the report on 29 July, entitled Defects in Apartments. That is the report of the working group to examine those defects in housing. I published it the following day on 30 July.

Yesterday, I brought a memorandum to the Government to inform it of the content of the report and the next steps that I will be taking. In that context - this not about kicking it down the road at all but about doing it properly - I will now, in consultation with Government colleagues, develop options with a view to providing support to homeowners who find themselves in a difficult financial situation through no fault of their own. I said this is a nettle to be grasped. We put it in the programme for Government. I am acting on it and I am serious about doing it. First, an interdepartmental agency group will be established to bring forward specific proposals and it is important that is done. That will be done in a time-bound fashion.

In addition, an advisory group to develop a code of practice will also be established to provide guidance to building professionals and to local authority building control fire services, including guidance and interim safety measures in line with recommendation 8 within the working group's own report.

Finally, I also intend liaising with key stakeholders. I did write to them yesterday and I have met them. I met in advance of the budget and explained the position through Pat Montague, who I have to say is being incredibly co-operative and constructive in his response. I did write yesterday, as the Deputy mentioned, and I intend to proceed with this. We will need legislation to underpin this scheme. We need to do that. I will respond further in my supplementary response.

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