Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

304. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the unfolding humanitarian crisis in County Donegal whereby families who have to move out of their homes in the county for safety reasons due to the impact of defective concrete blocks cannot source temporary alternative accommodation; and if he will urgently task the Housing Agency with assisting these families with temporary housing, either modular or in the private sector across the county. [50198/22]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 339 together.

Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022.

The purpose of this Act is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the scheme as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. Full details can be found at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/328d7-minister-obrien-welcomes-progress-on-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme/.

The Act includes significant improvements to the current scheme and includes the following enhancements:

- 100% grants subject to an overall maximum grant of €420,000 per dwelling;

- grant rates in keeping with advice from SCSI;

- a government guarantee in the form of a second grant option if required for a period of 40 years;

- a revised application process which removes the financial barrier to scheme entry;

- an independent appeals process for applicants;

- alternative accommodation and storage costs and immediate repair works to a maximum value of €25,000;

- the expertise of the Housing Agency in assessing applications;

- the inclusion of RTB registered rental properties;

- the inclusion of Clare and Limerick in the enhanced scheme upon commencement and the option for other counties to enter the scheme; and

- exempt development status for like for like remediation works completed under the scheme.

On 24 February I signed the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 which amend the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 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.

The role of the Housing Agency is to act as agents for each local authority in assessment, testing and categorisation of applications received as provided for in the Act, its remit does not include securing temporary accommodation for affected homeowners.

The priority now is to ensure regulations which are necessary to provide for the finer details around which the new and enhanced scheme will operate are prepared and signed off as soon as possible.

I can confirm work on drafting these regulations has begun and is being undertaken by my officials and will apply in respect of all matters within the Act which are to be or may be prescribed such as the damage threshold, the grant rates and the form and content of various reports, certificates, forms, declarations etc

Guidelines to facilitate, promote and support a consistent approach to the operation and administration of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme will also be drafted by my Department. The aim and intention is to have the regulations and guidelines finalised before the end of the year with the scheme opening for applications as soon as possible thereafter, which I expect will only be a matter of weeks later.