Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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173. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the text for the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Bill will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8214/25]

Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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174. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if retrospective payments for homeowners will be included in the remediation of dwellings damaged under the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Act 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8217/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together.

Following updated cost reports from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and advice from the Expert Group established to consider the matter, a further increase was provided for on 23 October 2024 through S.I. 577 of 2024. The Scheme Cap has risen by 10% to €462,000. An increase in the scheme grant rates of between 7.4% and 8.7% that are set out in the 2023 Regulations was also approved on 7 November 2024. (S.I. No. 621 of 2024).

The 2022 Act provides that any increase 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. My Department sought legal advice that confirmed that extending these increases to a wider group of relevant owners requires amending the Act.

The Spring 2025 Government Legislation Programme has included the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Bill for priority drafting. This Bill will contain details of the wider group of relevant owners that can avail of the increase in the grant scheme cap and rates.