Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this very important issue. He is absolutely right. The level of distress caused by pyrite and mica in defective concrete blocks is extreme, particularly for those families who are having to live through it. On behalf of the Minister, I am in a position to give an update on the two issues raised.

The Department has received a copy of the EU petitions committee's and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, is giving consideration to the recommendations it contains. He will also consider the recommendations in the final report when it is received.

When the Minister launched the enhanced scheme, he established an implementation steering group comprising officials from the relevant local authorities, the Department and the Housing Agency and the homeowner's liaison officer. This group met several times in recent months in order to keep the operation of the regulations and guidelines under review. The group is tasked with working through issues as they arise and making recommendations if further changes to the regulations or guidelines are needed.

Part of the implementation steering group’s remit is to produce a six-month report on the scheme. This report on the operation of the enhanced scheme covers the period July to December 2023, that is, the first six months of the scheme. I understand that the group's report will be submitted for the Minister’s consideration very soon. The Minister will give due regard to any recommendations it contains.

Almost 2,000 applications for remediation have been received under the terms of the previous and current schemes. Progress is being made in helping homeowners to fix their homes in order to allow them and their families to move on with their lives. The Senator mentioned the role of facilitators in Clare. Facilitators are also in place in Mayo. They have set up walk-in clinics and are providing advice. It is extremely important that such support is provided. I acknowledge the support that has already been providing by the staff of County Council to the relevant homeowners.

The National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office is a key element of the Government’s building control reform agenda. It will provide centralised oversight, support and direction for the development, standardisation and implementation of building controls across the 31 local authorities and building control authorities.The Department continues to work with the County and City Management Association and Dublin City Council to ensure that the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office is properly positioned and supported to provide an optimal shared service to the local authorities. New governance structures have recently been established to provide a formal mechanism for reviewing the delivery of building control and market surveillance functions in local authorities. This will include the establishment of a national steering group for building control and market surveillance to approve and monitor the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office's work programme. In addition, this steering group monitors and reviews annual budgets and resources for the office.

In relation to staffing, each local authority chief executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. This applies to both the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office within Dublin City Council and all local building control authorities.

I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this issue and I will keep him informed of the implementation steering group's first implementation report.