Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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208. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if applicants to the defective concrete block grant scheme with profound health issues can be assisted to cover remedial costs while awaiting the scheme funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2187/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 provides for grants of up to €420,000 to remediate homes under the Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant Scheme. This includes ancillary grants for approved applicants in the amount of €25,000 to assist homeowners at remediation stage to meet costs relating to temporary accommodation, storage and essential immediate repairs.

Local authorities are encouraged to be as flexible as possible, within the terms of the scheme, when dealing with vulnerable applicants and my Department has emphasised this point at recent Implementation Group meetings with the relevant local authorities.

Separately, my Department is having ongoing engagement with the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) on specific issues raised by DCB homeowners to see what can be done to address their financial concerns.

My Department received an interim funding proposal from the BPFI. This proposal looks at releasing a percentage of the approved grant to homeowners upfront. This proposal was reviewed at a sub group meeting of the Implementation Steering Group held on 11 January, 2024 which included reps from Engineers Ireland, Insurance Ireland, BPFI, Department of Finance, local authorities and Homeowner Action Group Reps. However, it is a matter which falls in the first instance under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Finance who is currently considering the matter.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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209. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government how the defective concrete block grant scheme payments will be managed and issued, that is, if they will be staged payments. [2188/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks grant scheme provides that a homeowner may apply to the designated local authority for a payment of a remediation option grant approved either in whole or by way of stage payments as works progress. The form and content of interim valuation certificates is prescribed in the Regulations and must be furnished by the homeowners competent building professional when they are seeking stage payments for the remediation work. The number of stage payments which can be applied for will depend upon the scale and cost of the approved remediation works.

Local authorities have responsibility for the detailed administration of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme, including processing eligible payments of applicants on the Scheme and the number of staged payments that can be made.