Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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309. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on proceeding with the defective concrete block grant scheme and the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, that are based on IS465, a standard that is currently under review and that emerging scientific evidence demonstrates is deficient. [10195/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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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 (DCB) 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 the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021, is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the current grant scheme. 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 enhanced grant scheme will be commenced as soon as related Regulations are completed, which Regulations provide details for the enhanced scheme not included in the 2022 Act such as application forms and templates, per square metre grant rates and the definition of damage. Draft Regulations have been prepared, which are the subject of consultation with key stakeholders, including with homeowners’ action groups, which consultation must be concluded before the Regulations will be finalised and adopted in early 2023. I have extended the consultation period on the draft Regulations by an additional two weeks, to 14 March 2023, following receipt of requests for time extensions from Donegal County Council and Mayo County Council.

The decision made by Government last November called for a number of reviews to be completed. This included a review by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) of the I.S. 465:2018 standard and the consideration of other potentially deleterious material e.g. pyrrhotite and the impact, if any, on foundations. I have asked NSAI to carry out their review of I.S. 465 and identify the necessary research required to support review of the relevant standards as a matter of priority. NSAI is an autonomous body under the aegis of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and, as such, detail on its programme of work and delivery is a matter for the NSAI and its parent Department.

An interagency Defective Concrete Blocks – Technical Matters Steering Group has been established to support and inform the NSAI Standardisation Program in relation to technical issues. The steering group includes representatives from NSAI, Geological Survey Ireland (GSI), Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the Housing Agency (observer), and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Steering Group has agreed a process to specify, procure, fund and manage research projects, subject to budget constraints, and research proposals have been developed by the relevant NSAI Technical Committees, including pyrrhotite oxidation in concrete blocks, potential impact of deleterious materials on foundations etc.

GSI has established a Framework for the Provision of Laboratory Analysis Services in support of Geological Survey Ireland’s “Irish Construction Materials” Project: Concrete Products. GSI will project manage research projects under the framework. In this regard, research to investigate pyrrhotite oxidation in concrete blocks has been commissioned and I understand that research on the potential impact of deleterious materials on foundations will commence shortly.

Once the necessary reviews have been concluded and any revised standard published by the NSAI, I can confirm that the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme will be reviewed at that point having regard to any amended standard, in the event that such amendments are required. However, it would not be appropriate to delay the introduction of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme while these reviews are being undertaken by the NSAI. I am keen to ensure that the significant enhancements contained in the new scheme are made available to homeowners who have not yet applied under the current grant scheme, and that those enhancements can also be retrospectively applied to existing applicants to the current grant scheme, as soon as possible.

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