Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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254. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the current position of the letter of assurance/ guarantee for those who have completed works under the defective concrete blocks scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22277/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the current grant scheme and the related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023.

The Act provides for a letter of assurance which attaches to a dwelling and confers an entitlement to apply for a second grant under the scheme in respect of that dwelling, in specific circumstances and where the remediation works are completed.

This second grant option, for options 2 to 5 will be available where original blockwork retained in the dwelling after the first remediation subsequently proves defective in accordance with the IS465:2018 protocol.

Section 21 of the Act mandates a designated local authority to issue a letter of assurance to a relevant owner following receipt by the designated local authority of a post works remediation plan and a certificate of remediation under section 18.

Letters of assurance continue to issue from Mayo County Council. I understand that Donegal County Council have yet to issue any letters of assurance.

My Department has engaged with officials in Donegal County Council and have requested confirmation as to when letters will issue and why they have been delayed and not issued per the provisions of the Act.