Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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284. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will review the MICA and pyrite remediation schemes for counties Donegal and Mayo given the difficulty applicants to those schemes are experiencing. [27942/21]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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285. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will review the issues in relation to local authorities acquiring construction materials from companies that previously provided materials with MICA. [27943/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together.

The Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 came in to operation on 31 January 2020 and the resulting Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme has been open for applications since the end of June 2020. The scheme was informed by the work of an Expert Panel and the current maximum grant amounts payable under the scheme were finalised in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This process also took account of the comprehensive engagement that took place between my Department and both Donegal and Mayo County Councils, who operate and administer the scheme.

As the application process only opened in June 2020 it would be premature to consider or make any changes to the scheme at this time. I am keeping progress on the scheme under review and engaging with both local authorities and local action groups on the matter.

In relation to purchasing decisions, it is important to note that local authorities are independent legal entities whose purchasing activities are governed by public procurement rules. It would not be appropriate therefore for my Department to comment on the individual purchasing decisions of local authorities.