Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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635. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the length of time the interim remediation scheme will continue for to ensure that the 100,000 affected homeowners of defective apartments across the country receive the necessary support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17318/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Interim Remediation Scheme (Scheme) was opened in December 2023 for the funding of emergency fire safety defect works in apartments and duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013.

The Scheme provides for the full funding of eligible interim measures in order to provide an acceptable level of fire safety in buildings, pending completion of the full remedial works. In light of their existing legal responsibilities and ownership of common areas, Owners’ Management Companies will be funded to carry out the works.

As of the end of March 2025, 201 applications have been received and validated, having met the required eligibility criteria. These applications represent 19,305 residential units, located in 28 local authority areas, with circa 77% in the Dublin region.

Full remedial works, which will include all necessary and eligible fire safety measures as well as those related to water ingress and structural damage, will be funded under a statutory scheme.

Legislation is currently being drafted and subject to the legislative process, the statutory scheme is expected to be in place later this year. It is intended that all applications to the Interim Remediation Scheme will transfer to the statutory scheme, once opened.

Given the overall potential scale and estimated cost associated with remediating eligible defects, it is likely that it will take many years to remediate all affected buildings. Resources and works, therefore, will need to be prioritised. The statutory scheme will seek to ensure that the upper estimate of 100,000 affected homeowners of defective apartments across the country receive the necessary support available to them under the scheme.

The scope, eligibility criteria and conditions of the statutory scheme will ultimately depend on the legislation that is passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas and signed into law by the President.