Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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202. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will ensure that the working group of homeowner representatives and key stakeholders, established to address the challenge with the sale and the ability to obtain a mortgage for properties impacted by defective concrete products, is reconvened with an independent chairperson and agreed terms of reference, as soon as possible. [40870/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I set up an Implementation Steering Group for the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant scheme, comprising officials from the relevant local authorities, my Department, the Housing Agency, and the Homeowners’ Liaison Officer. This Group meets every 4-6 weeks and keeps the operation of the DCB Scheme under continuous review. The most recent engagement took place on 12 September with the next meeting due to be held on 17 October 2024.

In order to assist more generally with certain financial issues facing homeowners and concerns around mortgageabilty of DCB remediated homes my Department established a subgroup of the Implementation Group.

Meetings were held in January and April this year with all key stakeholders present including representatives from Engineers Ireland, BPFI, Insurance Ireland, the Department of Finance, local authorities and Homeowner Action Groups. At these meetings the BPFI confirmed the industry position was that any home remediated under the DCB scheme will be treated the same as any other home for mortgage purposes. After the second meeting in April, my Department issued updated guidance to local authorities that enables homeowners to access grant funding for certain works at an earlier stage addressing a key issue raised at the subgroup.

Further engagement has since taken place between my Department and the BPFI to discuss financial issues affecting homeowners including the BPFI funding proposal in July, September and October.

My Department has notified those that have attended meetings of the subgroup that an update on developments since the last engagement will issue to them shortly.

Separate to these groups, there is continuous engagement with homeowner groups and the homeowner liaison officer I appointed continues to be available to facilitate engagement with homeowners and representative groups. Officials from my Department also recently visited Donegal to meet with councillors and homeowners on a broad range of issues on the DCB scheme. My Department is also developing a comprehensive communication plan which will improve access for all homeowners to up to date and factually correct information relating to the scheme.