Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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554. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 426 of 23 April 2024, the reason a review of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 cannot be carried out whilst safety defect remediation takes place concurrently, given this is a commitment within the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29840/24]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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555. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the work of the interdepartmental group to consider what further regulatory measures may be required for owners' management companies in the context of the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in eligible apartments and duplexes and the proposed statutory remediation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29841/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 554 and 555 together.

Last December, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD announced the opening of the Interim Remediation Scheme (Scheme) for Fire Safety Defects in Eligible Apartments and Duplexes.

The Scheme provides for the funding of emergency fire safety defect works in order to provide an acceptable level of fire safety in buildings, pending completion of the full remedial works.

Apartments and duplexes built between 1991 and 2013 with eligible defects qualify for the Scheme.

The Scheme, which is being administered by the Housing Agency on a nationwide basis, is open to applications via the Housing Agency’s website.

Given their current legal obligations and ownership of common areas, Owners’ Management Companies (OMCs) will receive funding to carry out the necessary remediation works.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has also been advancing the steps to put the remediation scheme on a statutory footing as a matter of priority. Full remedial works, which will include all necessary fire safety measures as well as those related to water ingress and structural damage, will be funded under the statutory scheme.

I have agreed with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, to establish an Interdepartmental Group to consider what further regulatory measures may be required for OMCs in the context of the interim scheme and the proposed statutory scheme. The Group will hold its first meeting in July.

Finally, my Department also continues to engage constructively with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to the review of the MUDs Act, which will be informed by key ongoing developments such as the remediation scheme and the helpful Interdepartmental Group being established.