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

I do not know that it is the third time the Deputy has asked about that. I have formally engaged with industry, both Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, BPFI, and Insurance Ireland. I have met them and we are continuing that engagement. Homeowners have been too. The code of practice is very important because it will underpin what interim works can take place and what the standard of those works will be when they take place.

The Deputy has referenced defective concrete blocks. We have given residents additional time because they asked for it. I asked for feedback across the House, as well as from the Deputy, in relation to regulations. I might add for the record of the House that I did not receive it. However, I do intend to publish the regulations on defective concrete blocks at the end of this month because that scheme needs to stand up at the start of June. We will work through that.

We have to get the code of practice piece done and we are expediting that. I want to make funds available for developments that need immediate fire safety works to be done. We will do that in the short term, but I have to get the code of practice done. I cannot reach into that process. That is for both local authority experts and industry experts. I expect to have that soon. I will correspond with Deputies and with the Oireachtas joint committee on it. I know how urgent and important it is.

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