Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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370. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on the status of the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in eligible apartments and duplexes; whether funding has been approved; the allocated amount and for which applications; and if he will provide a timeline for when other applications will secure funding. [4556/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Interim Remediation Scheme for Fire Safety Defects in Eligible Apartments and Duplexes (‘Scheme’) provides for the funding, through Owner Management Companies (OMCs), of emergency fire safety defect works in order to provide an acceptable level of fire safety in affected buildings pending completion of the full remedial works.

As of 31 January 2025, 195 applications to the Interim Remediation Scheme have been validated, meeting the required eligibility criteria, and are being progressed across 28 local authority areas, representing a total of 18,670 residential units, with circa 78% of units affected located in the four Dublin local authority areas.

The Scheme application process is broken into eight phases, of which Phase 3 requires significant input from OMCs, involving engagement of a Competent Professional (CP) to carry out a thorough fire safety investigation, identify required works and engage with Local Authority Fire Services (LAFS) in the preparation of an Interim Remediation Works Plan. Once Phase 3 is completed, and with confirmation of continued eligibility, a Grant Agreement can then be issued to the OMC and funds can be drawn down as works are completed and certified in due course.

To support the implementation and increase the efficiency of the Scheme, four pathfinder projects are currently underway. The projects have been selected from applications made to the Scheme, representing 595 residential units. The pathfinder process is facilitating the development of templates and standards for documents to be prepared by CPs, including proposals for fire safety assessments, fire safety risk assessments, interim measures remedial work plans, and other project-related paperwork. The process has also allowed LAFS to engage in detail with CPs regarding the development of satisfactory remediation proposals.

Two of the pathfinder projects have completed their engagement with Local Authority Fire Services and have successfully advanced to Phase 4, awaiting confirmation of continued eligibility and the issue of a Grant Agreement.

Applicant OMCs do not have to wait for the completion of the pathfinder projects to progress their applications; 192 of the validated applications have advanced to Phase 2/3.

It is anticipated that funding will be provided in the coming months, pending completion of specified milestones.