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

I thank the Deputy. It is a very important issue. As the Deputy is aware I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 on 22 June 2023. This was a greatly enhanced scheme where we upped the cap from €247,000 to €420,000. We adopted those regulations for that scheme on 29 June 2023. A review mechanism was included in that Act which provides for an increase or decrease to the overall grant scheme cap. It is currently at €420,000, a year after the Act has commenced. That allows us to do that one year after the Act has commenced of up to 10% in accordance with conditions of section 11 of the Act. My Department received updated costs reports from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland because I wanted it to be done independently. That was a big debate we had during the legislation as the Deputy will recall. It is an important thing. That was considered by the expert group that I established. The expert group recommended increases under the 2022 Act. I will be bringing a memo to Government very shortly to increase the current scheme cap for remediation options, ancillary grants and grant rates. I have engaged directly with the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, on this matter and aim to bring this proposal to Cabinet very shortly. I am pleased to see more people are applying to the new scheme. We are seeing homes being remediated. That is important too. The application of the increased cost amounts and the increased rates will be a matter that I will be bringing to Cabinet very shortly, within a matter of weeks, and that will be implemented for those in the scheme. As part of the proposal, following my discussions with the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, I intend that it will apply also to those who are in the scheme with works currently in place and under way.

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