Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

359. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to pursue those responsible for supplying detective concrete block containing pyrite and mica; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42544/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have convened a time-bound working group which includes representatives from my Department, local authorities and homeowner representative groups. These working group members are tasked with reviewing the operation of the current scheme. Included within the terms of reference and one of the issues under review is the role of responsible parties and financial institutions.

Full details of the Working Group on the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme, including its composition and terms of reference, are publicly available on our website at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/acf1f-working-group-on-the-defectvie-concrete-blocks-scheme-agreed-terms-of-reference/

Engagement with the Working Group is on-going and in line with a request from homeowners, it was agreed that the timeline for the submission of a report by the Working Group would be extended to the end of September. The recommendations of this working group will inform any changes or course of action that may be required, which will be bought forward in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of the Attorney General.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

360. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when County Clare will be incorporated in the defective concrete block scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42545/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department received correspondence from Clare County Council in October 2020, requesting the extension of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme to County Clare. A comprehensive reply was subsequently issued to the Council in November 2020.  

My Department informed the Council that before any extension of the scheme could be considered, the same rigorous analysis as that put in place prior to the rollout of the scheme to the counties of Donegal and Mayo would have to be undertaken. Following further discussions between my Department and Clare County Council it was agreed that the local authority would take a lead role in determining, in accordance with the IS: 465 protocol, that issues arising in homes in County Clare are in fact due to the presence of excessive amounts of deleterious materials (mica or pyrite) in the aggregate used to manufacture the concrete blocks and secondly quantify the likely extent of the problem in the county.

Subsequently a report was commissioned and finalised by Clare CoCo in July 2021 and submitted to my Department towards the end of that month. The report is currently being reviewed by officials from my Department.

Any changes to or extension of the existing scheme will require consideration in consultation with the  Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of the Attorney General.