Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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303. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will confirm the specific date of publication of the regulations for the enhanced defective concrete blocks scheme. [3032/23]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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304. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will confirm the specific date when the enhanced defective concrete blocks scheme will be operational.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3033/23]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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305. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will clarify whether he has scientific evidence that all of the existing foundations of defective concrete homes are fit for purpose and can be rebuilt upon without fearing deterioration as a result of deleterious materials; and if he will confirm that if preliminary scientific research results demonstrate damage and or risk of damage to foundations, if he will act with urgency to ensure all future defective concrete homes are rebuilt are on fit-for-purpose foundations. [3034/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 to 305, inclusive, together.

The purpose of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the current grant scheme, as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. The administrative areas of the following counties have been designated by the Act for the purposes of the enhanced grant scheme: Clare County Council; Donegal County Council; Limerick City and County Council; Mayo County Council.

The 2022 Act will be commenced once the related Regulations have been finalised. Draft Regulations have been prepared, which will be the subject of consultation with key stakeholders before the Regulation are finalised and adopted in early 2023. It is intended that the consultation with key stakeholders, which will be conducted by the appointed Homeowners’ Liaison Officer, will commence before the end January 2023.

The Regulations will provide for detailed matters within the 2022 Act which are to be prescribed, for example the grant rates, the damage threshold, and the form and content of various reports, certificates, forms, and declarations. Grant rates, to be included in the final Regulations, will be based upon updated regional construction costs for 2023 to be provided by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland.

Guidelines to facilitate, promote and support a consistent approach to the operation and administration of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme by designated local authorities are also being drafted by my Department. Ensuring that the regulations and guidance are comprehensive and that all relevant stakeholders have been consulted and that the enhanced scheme will work for everyone, is the main priority.

Pending the opening of the enhanced grant scheme, applications can continue to be made to relevant local authorities (comprising Donegal County Council and Mayo County Council) and processed under the current Defective Concrete Block grant scheme. The current scheme is underpinned by the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations, 2020, as amended by the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 andDwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2022.

Foundations can be left in situ and built upon and this is the approach recommended. The issue of foundations is under review by the National Standards Authority of Ireland and, should the current position change, provision will be made to in respect of foundations within the Enhanced Grant Scheme.

Once the necessary review has been concluded and any revised standard published I can confirm that the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme will be reviewed at that point having regard to any amended standard.

My Department has published a comprehensive “Your Questions Answered”to ensure homeowners have the most up to date information available to them. It can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/775c0-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme-your-questions-answered/