Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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112. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the timeline for the conclusion of the defects working group’s work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4922/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of building defects and provides for an examination of defective housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing report, "Safe as Houses".

In this regard, my Department is actively engaging with key stakeholders and I have had several meetings with stakeholder representative groups on this matter over recent months. My Department is currently working to establish the structures to examine the issue of defective housing, this will include apartment buildings, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government.

I recently appointed Mr Seamus Neely, former Chief Executive of Donegal County Council, to the position of Chair to the independent working group to oversee the effective implementation of the group’s terms of reference which are currently being finalised.

It is intended to conclude the process of finalising measures, including membership and methodologies, to establish the independent working group in consultation with the key stakeholders in the coming weeks, with a view to holding the inaugural plenary working group meeting shortly thereafter.

In regard to the timeline, the Programme for Government specifically states that the issue is to be examined in the first 12 months of the Government and the establishment of this independent working group, which will be up and running in Q1 of this year, is a clear demonstration of how seriously I treat this issue.