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

On the timeline, I do not want to delay the process at all. We have a great deal of work to do on foot of receiving the working group report. I have sought submissions and views from the Opposition parties, which I believe is important. I did that with the Housing for All plan, and many other parties sent in submissions. It is important to know that we have a consensus on this and how we are approaching it because whatever scheme is put in place will be with us for a number of years and will endure past the term of this Oireachtas into the next one. It is important to do that. I am hoping and aiming for the next two to three weeks, but I have to get Cabinet approval as well. We are working through that and I will keep the Senator and the residents fully informed of how we are going on that. I again thank them for their engagement.

With regard to planning exemptions, they are for same homes. We are looking at homes that are smaller as well. If people are right sizing for a smaller home than they had already, we are looking at being able to exempt that. We have given a firm commitment on planning exemptions for same builds. There are no upfront costs now. I will take this opportunity to say that any changes we bring forward, which are going to be significant, will apply to anybody who currently has an application in the scheme and will apply to any county that comes into the scheme. Finally, I believe this will also require legislation. I have said that to the residents' group. We cannot just keep adding counties to it. We are going to look at a wider approach because, unfortunately, it is not just Donegal and Mayo. Other counties are affected by this, and I am also mindful of others who have defects in their homes.

I will keep the Senator and the Seanad fully informed of progress. It is an absolute priority to get these changes through and to bring them to the Cabinet.