Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Cosgrove for bringing this up. She is a fellow west Cork person. People are proud of her in west Cork. It is an honour to take this Commencement matter as we fly the flag for west Cork in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

I sincerely thank her for raising this. I know she has been to visit those affected and has seen how the houses are crumbling and the psychological impact of what is happening, so she is coming from a well-educated place in terms of what she thinks needs to happen.

As the Senator is aware, the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, which contains the current grant scheme, commenced on 22 June 2023, and the related regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023.The Senator referenced the pyrite remediation scheme and I can confirm this approach was considered in the development of the defective concrete blocks, DCB, grant scheme. However, it is not comparing like with like. The scale of the schemes is different and the homogenous nature of the damage caused to properties in the pyrite remediation scheme, relative to those in the DCB scheme, lends itself to the approach taken. It should be noted an implementation steering group for the current DCB grant scheme has been in place since 2023. The group comprises officials from the relevant local authorities, the Department, the Housing Agency and the homeowner liaison officer and provides a useful forum for discussion and feedback on operational and emerging matters related to the scheme and draws attention to issues faced by applicants.

Under the Act, homeowners may submit an appeal to an independent appeals panel if they are not satisfied with their determined remediation option. I understand the appeals panel is issuing determinations to appellants and is expected to accelerate its work in the coming weeks. In October 2024 an increase to the scheme was provided, bringing the scheme cap to €462,000, and an increase in the scheme rates of between 7.4% and 8.7% was approved on 7 November 2024. In November 2024, following the receipt of preliminary results from scientific research in Donegal, the Department announced changes to the way the scheme works for certain homeowners. All homeowners who have been given a non-demolition option, known as options 2 to 5, have been 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 once the full review of the national standard is complete. I understand the NSAI is progressing with its review of the IS 465 and will publish an update on its website when available. Furthermore, under section 51 of the Act, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is required to commence a review of the operation of the Act within three months of the completion of any review of IS 465 by the NSAI. A report to each House of the Oireachtas on the findings and conclusions resulting from that review is required not later than three months after the completion of the review.

I see that last part as the opportunity, perhaps, to examine how the scheme is working, whether it is having the impact it should and whether it is addressing the issues it should be. Once the NSAI publishes its report the Minister will be compelled to provide a further report within three months of that report. That may be the opportunity to address some of the issues the Senator is talking about. The Minister has said repeatedly there is a commitment to keep the scheme under review. I see that as an opportunity to amend where necessary.