Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies for raising this matter and for the opportunity to provide an update on behalf of the Minister and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. As Deputies know, following the decision of the Government on 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June. The Bill passed both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on 23 July 2022. The Act includes significant improvements to the current scheme and several enhancements.

The maximum grant cap for grant assistance under the scheme has been increased from €247,500 to €420,000. The current 90% maximum grant was increased to a 100% grant for all remediation options 1 to 5, subject to the overall cap in grant rates. Exempt development status has been provided for on a like-for-like basis. There is the provision of a Government guarantee on remediation works, other than the full demolition and rebuild through eligibility for a second grant, if required, for a period of 40 years. Alternative accommodation, storage costs and immediate repair works to a maximum value of €25,000 within the overall grant cap have been included.

The Housing Agency will play a key role under the scheme by taking on the financial cost of testing and assessing homes and determining, on behalf of local authorities, the appropriate remediation option and grant rate for each dwelling. The scheme has been extended to Clare, Limerick and other counties, as required. A new independent appeals process has been introduced. As an interim measure, significant improvements were made to the existing grant scheme in February 2022 by way of SI 85 of 2022, which includes a provision for the inclusion as an allowable cost of essential remediation immediate repair works up to a value of €5,555 and relates to the structural stability of any part of the home affected by defective concrete blocks. This funding for immediate repairs is available now and will also be available under the enhanced grant scheme upon its commencement.

Regarding alternative temporary accommodation, it should be noted that the enhanced grand scheme includes provision for €15,000 to be made available to affected homeowners to assist in temporary accommodation. Donegal County Council sought approval from the Department for two facilitator posts in Donegal to support homeowners through the defective concrete blocks, DCB, process. The role of facilitators will include guiding homeowners through the DCB application process and facilitating the homeowner to access all other relevant support services, including options for alternative accommodation or storage. I want to confirm that a letter of approval supporting the post of facilitators to assist homeowners through an enhanced DCB grant scheme has been issued and work on drafting the necessary regulations has commenced with the intention of having the enhanced scheme ready for application early in the new year.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn referred to modular housing. I will bring that proposal to the Minister in the Department. On Sharon Moss's house in Letterkenny, it is hugely worrying and disappointing. I am glad Deputy Conway-Walsh raised her case in the Dáil today. Emergency interventions on behalf of local authorities were mentioned, as well as the assistance homeowners need in order to move to the next stage. There are some difficulties. It may be we will be able to iron out these difficulties by working together. I will bring the concerns of the Deputies back to the Minister and I thank them for raising this very difficult and necessary Topical Issue.

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