Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is fine. I thank Deputies Conway-Walsh and Mac Lochlainn for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. As the Deputies will be aware, the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, which commenced on 22 June 2023, contains the current grant scheme and the related regulations that were adopted on 29 June 2023. Following updated costs reports that the Department received from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and advice from the expert group, a 10% increase in the overall scheme cap, which Deputy Mac Lochlainn acknowledged, was brought forward in October 2024, raising the cap from €420,000 to €462,000 for all homeowners yet to receive a grant determination by that date. It should be noted the grant scheme grant rates were also examined and increased to between 7.4% and 8.7% in November 2024.

The cap increase is in line with the provisions of the Act as set down by the Oireachtas, which allows for a maximum increase of 10% in the overall scheme cap. The Act also provides that any increase in the scheme cap or grant rates will apply to eligible relevant owners that are yet to receive a determination in respect of remediation option and grant amounts. The Department sought legal advice that confirmed that extending these increases to a wider group of relevant owners requires amending the Act. In the interest of equity and fairness, the Minister intends to extend the increase in the scheme cap and rates to apply to a wider group of relevant owners. This will be examined as part of the remediation of dwellings damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Bill, which has been included in the summer 2025 Government legislative programme for priority drafting.

A number of other matters have come to light during the first 18 months of the operation of the scheme and the Minister will also consider a number of technical amendments as part of this legislative change. These changes will assist in the efficient administration of the scheme and will enable the smoother operation of the grant scheme for applicants. As Deputy Mac Lochlainn referenced, the Minister met with various stakeholders in Donegal on Monday, 12 May, including representatives from the Mica Action Group, along with a large group of Donegal county councillors and senior management of the council. The Deputy acknowledged that he met with the Minister. Each group raised important matters, including the need to extend the eligibility of the cap and rate increase to a larger group of homeowners. The visit demonstrated to the Minister first-hand the real difficulties homeowners are facing. It was further impressed upon the Minister the continued importance and contribution of the defective concrete blocks scheme in helping them to fix their homes and move on with their lives.

The Government is committed to assisting homeowners to remediate damage caused by defective concrete blocks. The grant scheme was put in place to help people to fix their homes and move on with their lives. The scheme is working and real progress is being made. At the end of April 2025, there were 2,697 applications to the grant scheme, with 162 homes where remediation works had been completed and a further 824 where work has commenced. The Government understands that this can be a difficult and challenging time for homeowners. On a human level, I expect that it is very difficult for people. The Department continues to work with key stakeholders on the operation of the scheme, including the relevant local authorities, the Housing Agency and the homeowner’s liaison officer where the concerns of the homeowners came to the Department.

To deal with a point that Deputy Conway-Walsh referenced, a draft of the defective concrete blocks social homes scheme for local authorities and AHBs affected by defective blocks is being finalised. The scheme will include grant rates and caps as outlined in the private scheme for homeowners. The scheme will apply to local authorities and AHB homes located within designated local authorities. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will apply approach to focus on efficiencies and the best use of limiters available to undertake the mediation works.

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