Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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389. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on the inclusion of Sligo in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54497/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023, which provides for the enhanced grant scheme, and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.

Section 5 of the Act contains details on the process for the inclusion of additional local authority areas into the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant Scheme. This statutory designation process can commence upon a request by a local authority or by myself, as Minister, and whereby the Housing Agency thereafter carries out technical testing of dwellings in a given local authority administrative area.

I understand that the Housing Agency and their appointed Chartered Engineer met with Sligo County Council on 26^thSept to commence their investigations and consultations, as required.

As set out in the Act an order for the inclusion of a local authority in the Enhanced DCB Grant Scheme may only be made by Government where the Housing Agency has made its recommendation. The Housing Agency has confirmed to my Department that its investigations and consultations have completed and its report including a recommendation to myself, as Minister, is currently under draft. It is envisaged the report will be completed in January 2024.