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

Yes, with the new evidence. We are not going to insist people stick with a remediation option that is not going to work. I will explain what is required in that instance. An independent engineer will have conducted an assessment and a remediation option will have been chosen. However, because of the passage of time or whatever, it is found that another remediation option is more appropriate, which could be within options 2 to 5 or, indeed, option 1, then a new application is made containing the new data, and then the applicant would rejoin the scheme with a new recommendation. That is an important point and I did not mean to miss stating that earlier.

I understand the purpose of the amendment but believe it is counterproductive. I think the amendment might prevent people from applying to the scheme until they think that the damage is bad enough. I want people to join the scheme so that we can assess the damage, work through that and plan the works. Many of the affected homes are individual homes. In County Donegal, there are a lot of individual homes that are affected thus it makes it more difficult to procure the work. There are schemes within estates. There are more affected homes in estates in counties Mayo, Limerick, Sligo, Clare and other counties so one can manage that work better. We have got to be able to see who is coming into the scheme. Those who are already in the existing scheme will benefit from the improvements in the new scheme.That is subject to the Bill being passed by the Seanad this week and us getting the regulations drawn up and into operation with the new scheme before the end of the year.