Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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317. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the way the enhanced pyrite remediation scheme will be administered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3260/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Question refers to the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 ('the 2022 Act'). The purpose of the 2022 Act is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the current defective concrete blocks (DCB) 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.

Upon commencement of the enhanced grant scheme, local authorities will have responsibility for its administration. This includes the initial validation of applications, notifying homeowners of the Housing Agency's technical determinations, determination of the grant payable for alternative accommodation and storage costs and immediate repair works and the subsequent payment of grants to successful applicants. The Housing Agency will act as agents on behalf of the local authorities under the enhanced grant scheme and will make the technical determinations regarding the appropriate remediation option and grant amount. The Local Authority will notify homeowners of all The Housing Agency’s determinations.

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.