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

The interim fire safety scheme is in place now. It is a complex arrangement. At the outset, I thank the stakeholders and the residents in particular, including the Construction Defects Alliance, the Apartment Owners Network and Not Our Fault, which have engaged in a really constructive manner.

Yesterday, I received Government approval for the priority drafting of the main scheme legislation, the apartment and duplex defects remediation Bill 2024. This Bill will complement the interim measures the Government has already put in place to fund eligible emergency fire safety defect works in order to provide an acceptable level of fire safety in buildings, pending completion of the full remedial works under the statutory scheme.

In this regard, since the interim scheme was launched in December 2023, in the period to the end of August, we received 171 applications from owner management companies, OMCs, which have been validated. That represents more than 17,000 residential units spread across 27 local authority areas and for Members' information, 78% of applicants are in the Dublin area.

My Department works very closely with our stakeholders, particularly our residents, the chief fire officers and the local government sector. In April of this year, we agreed to bring forward pathfinder schemes because we have to work through the process on the interim measures. We selected four appropriate pathfinder projects. They were identified under the scheme. Three of those are situated in the Dublin area involving three local authorities. One of the projects is in Kildare. These projects vary in size and complexity. They will provide and are providing valuable insights across resource identification, standardisation of documents and process efficiencies.

Intense engagement has taken place between the competent professionals acting on behalf of the four owner management companies and the local authority areas. Three of the owner management companies have completed their engagement with the fire services and have received grant agreements to proceed with works.

Subject to validation, payment to OMCs is expected to commence on eligible works before the end of this year. I expect works, particularly on one of the schemes, to start in a matter of weeks. There is no delay or shortfall in the availability of funding to protect the safety and welfare of those living in apartments or duplexes built between 1991 and 2013 with relevant fire safety defects that occurred during construction.

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