Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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339. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if funding will be made available to Donegal County Council for the retrofit scheme replacement of single-glazed windows and doors under the retrofit scheme in Radharc an Gleanna, Ard an Rátha, Contae Dhún na nGall; the level of funding allocated to Donegal County Council for such works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46138/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for the management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock is the responsibility of the local authority under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. My Department supports local authorities with annual funding to support management and maintenance of their social housing stock under a number of funding programmes.

The programmes include the newly revised 2021 Energy Efficiency Retrofit programme in response to the Programme for Government commitment for local authority owned housing. This new ten year programme set a BER performance requirement of “B2” or cost optimal level. It is planned to retrofit 36,500 Local Authority homes to this performance requirement by 2030.

This revised programme, focuses on ensuring that the fabric of the home is upgraded and an energy efficient heating system is provided. Works eligible under the Programme include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors replacement where required, heat pump installation and ancillary and associated works, with all properties upgraded required to reach a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 or cost optimal level.

Donegal County Council was notified of an allocation of €1,569,993 for 2021 with a requirement to retrofit a minimum of 58 properties. The decision on what homes are retrofitted under this funding allocation is a matter for Donegal County Council.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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340. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if changes to the defective block redress scheme will permit successful applicants to submit a new application, change to another option or submit a change of circumstances when the property has deteriorated since applying for the redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46140/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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In response to concerns being raised by homeowners in relation to the Defective Concrete Block grant scheme, I established a time-bound working group, with representatives from my Department, the local authorities and homeowner representative groups who are tasked with reviewing the operation of the scheme and providing a report with recommendations originally by 31st July.

At the request of homeowners and in order to afford them more time to consider and respond to key issues under discussion, it was agreed at the meeting held on the 27th July that the timeline for the submission of a report by the Working Group would be extended to the end of September 2021.

While the work of the group continues it would not be appropriate for me to comment on its deliberations. Following conclusion of the deliberations of the Working Group, I will, following consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Attorney General, bring proposals to Government.