Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Ward for raising this matter. Before I address the specific issues he raised, I want to say the Government is acting in good faith on the complex issue of defective concrete blocks. However, this is nothing compared with the stress and trauma being experienced by people in the Deputy's county and others. I have visited them. Over the summer months, I met some of the people and sat with them in their kitchen. I cannot even comprehend the level of stress they are dealing with. We are contributing a very significant amount of public money to the scheme. It is expected to be in excess of €2.2 billion. We are working with communities and Oireachtas Members to try to get this right. I thank the Deputy for the constructive contribution he is making to the debate.

As the Deputy said, on 31 March 2025, the National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI, commenced a public consultation period of the revised draft of IS 465. As the Deputy knows, but for the benefit of others, this is the testing standard used to evaluate the impact on homes. More than 600 submissions were received. The NSAI is now in the process of finalising the review. The review is being informed by a number of pieces of scientific research. The task of the NSAI review group is to assess the implications of the entire body of research. We are endeavouring to inform this on the basis of scientific research.

In November 2024, the Department of housing made changes to the way the grant scheme works for certain homeowners, as the Deputy is aware. This followed receipt of the preliminary results from scientific research done on damaged dwellings in County Donegal, which claimed that the underlying mechanism of damage is as a result of an internal sulphate attack due to the presence of excessive amounts of chemical. From 6 November, all homeowners who have been given an non-demolition option will be offered a choice of continuing with the work on their dwelling under the option determined or the option of a full technical review of their application by the Housing Agency. This review will be informed by the current research, once the full review of IS 465 is complete. If homeowners choose to continue with the works, they will continue to avail of the 40-year Government guarantee. Homeowners who receive an option 1 demolition are unaffected by the changes.

This is complex. It is an important matter and it potentially has serious implications for homeowners and also for the Exchequer. I need to be truthful about that. The Department will review the contents over the consultation period and consider the advice received from the expert group. I do not want to make any inappropriate or pre-emptive comments on the draft standard or the potential changes that it might bring to the grant scheme, but the point about additional training is well made. Yes, training will have to be provided should there be changes, and it will have to be certified or overseen by Government. I will ask the Minister, Deptuy Browne, to continue to engage with the Deputy and other Oireachtas Members in affected counties on this quite technical but very practical measure for homeowners.

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