Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

264. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of defective concrete blocks scheme applications received by Donegal and Mayo County Councils to the end of March 2022; the number approved in each county at stage 1 and at stage 2, respectively; if further information will be provided on the time taken with regard to point 3 in each county in tabular form; the length of time that is taken to process stage 2 eligibility applications in each county; and if he will take steps to ensure that the process for the approval of stage 2 applications is considerably speeded up in County Mayo in particular. [18924/22]

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

I brought a Memorandum to Government on an enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme on the 30 November 2021. It included an unprecedented suite of improvements to the current scheme. Government approved the enhanced scheme which it is estimated will cost approximately €2.2Bn.

I aim to bring the required primary legislation to give effect to the enhanced scheme before the Oireachtas as soon as possible with Spring 2022 being the indicative target timeline.

In the interim three enhancements from the new scheme have been brought into effect through amendments to the existing scheme regulations.

- to make provision, in the case of an application for confirmation of eligibility received before the date of the coming into operation of these regulations, for the recoupment of the fees connected with the provision of the engineer’s report without the need for a prior stage 1 confirmation of eligibility

- to make provision for the inclusion as an allowable cost ‘essential immediate repair works’, up to a value of €5,555, which are identified by a competent engineer in a ‘building condition assessment report’ and relate to the structural stability of any part of a home affected by defective concrete blocks

- to make provision for an increase from 75% to 85% in the value of stage payments which can be recouped to an approved applicant prior to the final grant payment.

The table below sets out the number of applications received as at 5 April 2022 and the numbers that have progressed to Stage 1 and Stage 2 approval.

Local authorities have responsibility for the administration of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme. This includes the assessment of applications for eligibility and payment of grants to successful applicants under the specific remediation option approved. Officials from my Department are in regular contact with the relevant local authorities to ensure that applications are processed as quickly as possible and ensure that there are no blockages in system.