Written answers

Tuesday, 3 December 2019

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Mica Redress Scheme

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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615. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will ensure that lenders support homeowners that are affected by mica to access the 10% finance needed for the redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49984/19]

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Last year, the Government agreed in principle to introduce a scheme to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been significantly damaged due to defective concrete blocks.

Budget 2020 provides funding of €40 million to fund the operation of the pyrite remediation scheme and this new scheme to address the issues identified in Donegal and Mayo. Funding for future years will be agreed on an annual basis as part of the normal Estimates process and additional funding can be provided should it be required.

The full terms and conditions of the scheme are currently being finalised in consultation with the Attorney General's Office and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, including the development of the necessary regulations.

This process takes account of the engagement that my Department is currently having with both Donegal and Mayo County Councils, who will operate and administer the scheme.

In this regard, my Department continues to meet with both local authority teams to conclude implementation arrangements for the scheme. Further engagement will take place over the coming weeks.

The aim will be to complete the outstanding work without delay in order to ensure that the scheme can get underway as early as possible.

In regard to other financial supports provided for homeowners by lenders outside of the scheme, this is a matter for individual homeowners and the lending institutions involved. The day to day operations of the banks and other such institutions, are the sole responsibility of the boards and management teams and each lender must be run on an independent and commercial basis. As Minister, I have no role in the matter.

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