Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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111. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the maximum level of affordable housing funding under the latest iteration of the scheme; and if he will list which projects with approval have been allocated this upper limit. [22012/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The maximum level of subsidy available to local authorities under the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) has been raised to €150,000 per unit to support high density cost rental housing in cities. This will facilitate greater direct delivery of this tenure and type of housing where acute affordability challenges occur.   

Local authorities were notified of this enhanced level of funding in December 2022 which has been welcomed given the affordability challenges and delivery targets faced by the relevant local authorities.

To date, apartments which will be for cost rental at Belgard, South Dublin County Council and at Churchfields, Mulhuddart, Fingal County Council have received approval for the enhanced level of AHF subsidy and an application by Dublin City Council is being assessed. It is also open to relevant local authorities who have been approved for funding based on the previous maximum level of subsidy available of €100,000 per home to submit a revised application for the higher subsidy level if needed in due course.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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112. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the regulations for the enhanced defective block remediation scheme. [22013/23]

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 ('the 2022 Act'), 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.

The 2022 Act which contains the enhanced grant scheme will be commenced as soon as related Regulations are completed. The Regulations will 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 ongoing consultation with key stakeholders, including with homeowners’ action groups. The consultation must be concluded before the Regulations will be finalised and adopted. I extended the consultation period on the draft Regulations, which commenced in February 2023, 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 submissions received are now being reviewed and when that review is complete I will engage further with the homeowners' action groups before finalising the Regulations which I expect to conclude this month.

My Department recently published an updated “Your Questions Answered”document on the Department’s website to ensure homeowners have the most up to date information available to them which 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/.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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113. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the building defects redress scheme and the provision of funding for interim and emergency works. [22014/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Since the receipt of Government approval in January to draft legislation to establish supports for the remediation of fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013, I have been working to progress the various programmes of work that are required to place the remediation scheme on a statutory footing.  A key aspect of this work is developing a Code of Practice in the context of the Fire Services Acts, to provide guidance to relevant professionals, including guidance on interim safety measures.

The scheme will incorporate a means or methodology, based on the Code of Practice, for prioritising the allocation and nature of support and funding, including the funding of interim measures, to ensure that the highest risk buildings will be the first to be supported.

In order to ensure that important life-safety works are not paused, remediation works related to fire safety defects, entered into or commenced from 18 January 2023, will form part of the remediation scheme, subject to terms and conditions.  The details of this process are currently being worked out. 

Work is underway to draft the required legislation, which will include the scope, eligibility and conditions of the remediation scheme.  While I am working on the development of the scheme as a matter of priority, sufficient time is required to draft the legislation to ensure that the scheme is fit for purpose, provides value for tax payer’s money and contains appropriate oversight and governance measures.