Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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579. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 152 of 13 October 2020, if the schemes that he refers to includes the pyrite remediation scheme; and if not, the reason. [32487/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The response provided under Parliamentary Question No. 152 of 13 October 2020 specifically related to the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, and did not include the Pyrite Remediation scheme.

The regulations underpinning the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme came in to operation on 31 January 2020. The Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 provide for a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo only, to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks containing either pyrite or mica.

Separately and distinctly, the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provided the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board (PRB), and for the making of a Pyrite Remediation Scheme, to be implemented by the PRB with support from the Housing Agency. The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material and not to damage arising in any other circumstance, for example, such as pyrite or mica in concrete blocks.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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580. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the separate financial supports available to the large numbers of families in County Donegal reporting that they cannot afford to avail of the defective concrete blocks grant under the 10% contribution requirement; and the role of the banks and financial institutions in this regard. [32488/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme provides financial assistance to support affected homeowners to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks.

The Scheme outlines five remedial options ranging from rebuilding on existing foundations to replacing of external walls. The maximum approved costs per dwelling under the scheme are significant and range from €55,000 to €275,000 depending on the remedial option. A grant of 90% of the approved costs associated with the necessary remediation works, subject to a maximum for each remedial option, or 90% of the actual cost of the remedial works, whichever is the lesser, is available under the scheme. This is in line with similar Government grant schemes where an applicant contribution to the costs is an important requirement.

In terms of finance provided by financial institutions to homeowners, this is a matter for individual homeowners and the institutions involved.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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581. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if further funding will be available to fund the defective concrete blocks grant should the amounts sought by the affected families exceed that provided for in budget 2021. [32489/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Budget 2021 provides funding of €20 million to fund the operation of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme for the counties of Donegal and Mayo.

My Department is satisfied that the budget which has been made available should be adequate to meet anticipated demand in 2021.