Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for being delayed. We were voting in the Dáil. I thank the Senator. This is a very important issue. It is a very distressing position for those she represents to be in, as she has quite rightly articulated. I have met a number of homeowners in my own constituency who are unfortunately faced with similar problems because of defects in properties delivered to them, defects that were no fault of their own. It is very frustrating. There are a number of such cases right around the country.

In recognition of the difficulties faced by residents who are encountering defects in housing, the programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of addressing building defects. Housing for All, the Government's national plan on housing to 2030, reiterates this commitment. In this context, my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, established a working group to examine defects in housing under the chairmanship of Mr. Seamus Neely, the former chief executive of Donegal County Council. The plenary working group has been meeting monthly since March 2021, with the exception of August. In addition, regular sub-group meetings have been taking place to advance elements of the work. The group's terms of reference are focused on purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed in Ireland between 1991 and 2013.

In summary, the terms of reference are: to examine defects in housing having regard to the recommendations under heading 4, "Addressing the legacy of bad building and poor regulation", in chapter 4 of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government's report entitled "Safe as Houses? A Report on Building Standards, Building Controls and Consumer Protection"; to establish the nature of significant and widespread fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013; to establish the scale of the issue, including work to estimate the number of dwellings affected by the defects identified, including those already remediated; to consider a methodology for the categorisation of defects and the prioritisation of remedial action; to suggest mechanisms for resolving defects; to evaluate the potential cost of technical remediation options; and to pursue options on possible financial solutions to effect a resolution in line with the programme for Government commitment to identify options for those impacted by defects to access low-cost, long-term finance. That last point was one of the key components of the argument the Senator put forward for her area.

As part of its deliberations, the working group has consulted with a wide range of relevant stakeholders. The insights gained through engagement with stakeholders, as well as the outcome of an online consultation undertaken earlier this year, will inform the ongoing deliberations of the working group and support the group in delivering on its extensive terms of reference and finalising its report to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. I have sought an update from the Minister, who has said that he is satisfied that the group is working effectively and efficiently on this very complex matter. He awaits the group's report, to be delivered later this year when it has concluded its deliberations. I wish assure the Senator that work is ongoing in that regard.

I understand the pressures these people are facing. The same pressures are present in my own constituency. Solutions are needed quite quickly because of the great liability being placed on ordinary families through no fault of their own. I will raise the issue with the Minister again. If the Senator would like to detail the specific issue in her area, I can raise that with him as well.