Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 to 83, inclusive, and 85 to 89, inclusive, together.

I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.

I fully acknowledge the difficulties that homeowners are facing and the Government is committed to helping those whose lives have been impacted by this issue. Mental health supports for individuals and families affected by the defective concrete blocks issue, free counselling sessions are now available to individuals and families in the four relevant counties. The Department of Health have worked with the HSE to ensure that mental health supports are available through My Mind and homeowners can visit www.mymind.org and register for the service.

I have been supportive of applications by designated local authorities for Defective Concrete Block Facilitator posts to support homeowners through the grant scheme process. I understand a facilitator was appointed by Clare County Council on 11 September 2023.

The new scheme provides very considerable enhancements for eligible homeowners and provided for the inclusion of Clare and Limerick. The Scheme is demand led and I am satisfied that it is being administered in line with the Act as set down by the Oireachtas. The Housing Agency act as agents on behalf of the local authorities under the scheme. Applications received by a local authority are referred to the Housing Agency to review the 'Building Condition Assessment Report' and determine if the home has met the 'damage threshold' for entry to the scheme. The purpose of having a damage threshold is to ensure that the worst affected homes are prioritised first.

I am not aware of any delays on the part of the Housing Agency in having houses in County Clare being approved for the remediation scheme. The Housing Agency have confirmed to my Department that twenty five applications submitted to Clare County Council across Q3 and Q4 of 2023 were inspected by the Housing Agency. The Housing Agency informed Clare County Council that all twenty five applications met the damage threshold and were therefore approved for entry into the scheme. The Housing Agency estimate appropriate remediation option and grant amount determinations will issue to Clare County Council on all twenty five applications across Q1 and Q2 of 2024.

A further 15 applications were referred to the Housing Agency by Clare County Council council in January and February 2024 and of these 12 determinations of damage threshold were determined by the Housing Agency and issued to the council.

Clare County Council has confirmed to my Department that it notified three applicants to the scheme on the decision made with respect to their remedial option and nine applicants regarding the damage threshold decision in March 2024.

Terms of Reference are being developed in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General to progress the appointment of a Senior Counsel to review the role of the industry and regulation.

I received confirmation from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) on 14 March, 2024 that the industry position regarding mortgageability of remediated houses under the DCB scheme is that once a certification of remediation is supplied as part of the Scheme that the house will then be treated in the same manner by them as any other home and Insurance Ireland have confirmed a similar position in that properties once remediated and certified will be assessed, underwritten and insured as normal.

I have recently reached a final decision on appointments for the Appeals Panel for the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the use of Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme. My Department has begun work on convening the Panel to allow appeals to be dealt with in due course. When this work has been completed, appeals will be assessed and an outcome issued to those homeowners who have submitted appeals, following the decision of the Panel.

Arising from the Government Decision of 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) grant scheme, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) was tasked with delivering a programme of work to address a number of technical items. An interagency DCB Technical Matters Steering Group has been established to inform and guide the NSAI review of a number of relevant standards including I.S. 465:2018, and the impact, if any on foundations and the effect, if any, of full cavity fill insulation on homes susceptible to defective blockwork.

Research proposals developed by the relevant NSAI Technical Committees, including research to investigate pyrrhotite oxidation in concrete blocks and the potential impact of deleterious materials on foundations, have been commissioned and are making good progress.

I am advised that preliminary findings from primary research to investigate pyrrhotite oxidation in concrete blocks and the potential impact of deleterious materials on foundations, has been received by the NSAI and the relevant Technical Committee, and that they are currently analysing this data in advance of the completion of the research project later this year. This project is part of a substantial program of research and analysis that is underway at present as part of the NSAI review of standards.

Following the publication of any revised standard published by the NSAI, the enhanced DCB scheme will be reviewed at that point, in the event that such amendments are required.

It should be noted that NSAI is Ireland’s official standards body and is an autonomous body under the aegis of the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment. Any matters relating to the composition of the NSAI panels should be directed to that Minister.