Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can confirm that the Government decided today that we will fund a scheme to carry out necessary fire safety, water ingress and structural safety works to apartments and duplexes that need that work done. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, announced the scheme only in the last couple of hours. It will benefit tens of thousands of people. It is not just about the financial distress and there is also enormous emotional distress for people if they live in a building and the alarm goes off when the fire safety works have not been done. I believe this decision will be a huge relief to tens of thousands of people around the country.

To answer the Deputy’s questions, we expect the legislation will take until the end of the year, the scheme will be up and running next year and there will be retrospection for people who have already carried out works.

As I am talking about this matter, I should declare a potential interest. I own an apartment in Castleknock. It is the only property I own but it is in a building with defects. While I will not be claiming from the scheme personally, the owners' management company might, and I could be an indirect beneficiary in that regard.

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