Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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258. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the proposed increase in the maximum grant rate under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme will be applied retrospectively to all homeowners who have engaged with the scheme to include those who have started building their homes and those who have completed them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38577/24]

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 2022 Act') on 22 June 2023, which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.

A review mechanism is provided within the 2022 Act, which provides for an increase or decrease the overall grant scheme cap (currently €420,000) a year after the Act has been commenced by no more than 10%, in accordance with the conditions of Section 11 of the Act.

My Department received updated cost reports from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) that have been considered by the Expert Group I established. The Expert Group have recommended changes to the current scheme cap for remediation options, ancillary grants and the grant. I will bring a Memo to Government shortly on the matter.

The 2022 Act provides that any change in the scheme cap or grant rates will apply to eligible relevant owners that are yet to receive a determination in respect of remediation option and grant amount. Extending these increases to a wider group of relevant owners requires amending the 2022 Act and I will be bringing a proposal to Government to give effect to this policy intention.