Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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133. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the challenges with the defective concrete block scheme in Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24313/24]

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 contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.

The Enhanced Grant Scheme was legislated for following extensive consultation with all relevant stakeholders. The new Scheme provides very considerable enhancements for eligible homeowners and provided for the inclusion of Clare and Limerick. At the time of the Scheme launch, I established an Implementation Steering Group comprising officials from the relevant local authorities, my Department, the Housing Agency, and the Homeowners' Liaison Officer (HLO) who have met several times over the last number of months and will keep the operation of the regulations and guidelines under review. In addition a subgroup of this group met in January and April of this year focusing on the financial aspects of the scheme and following these meetings my Department has issued updated guidance to local authorities that will enable eligible applicants have earlier access to grant funding for certain eligible works.

I fully acknowledge the difficulties that homeowners are facing in the counties affected 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.