Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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804. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware of a defective concrete block grant scheme application by a person from county Mayo (details supplied); if this applicant is eligible for the enhanced grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29606/25]

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

The detailed operation of the Scheme is a matter for the designated local authorities in the first instance and their role is set out clearly in the 2022 Act. Local authorities have responsibility for the administration of the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme. This includes the initial validation of applications, notifying homeowners of the Housing Agency's determinations on damage threshold, the appropriate remediation option and grant amount, determination of the grant payable for alternative accommodation and storage costs and immediate repair works and the subsequent payment of grants to successful applicants.

Any query a homeowner has relating to an application to the scheme should be addressed to their local authority, Mayo County Council in this instance.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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805. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an applicant (details supplied) for mortgage to rent has been turned down due to the valuation of her defective blocks home being deemed to be the value of the house remediated as opposed to the value of the house with deleterious materials present; if he will offer any clarity on the issue; if he has any intention to address this issue through legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29649/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme introduced in 2012 is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process. In order for a borrower to qualify for the MTR scheme, the mortgage, property, and household, must all meet detailed eligibility criteria, one of which is that the property must be within the allowable property acquisition limits.

In November 2024, the property price acquisition cost limits set for the MTR scheme were increased to reflect average property price increases. This action was taken to ensure that the MTR scheme continues to effectively aid households in acute, unsustainable mortgage arrears situations, who have little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances.

However, my Department cannot compel an Approved Housing Body (AHB) or a private MTR provider to purchase any property which is offered to them by a lender under the MTR scheme. Nor can my Department compel a lender to put a property forward to the MTR scheme or interfere in the valuation of the open market value of a property.

If the MTR scheme is not an option in a particular case, I would encourage the borrower to discuss with their lender if there are other options available to resolve their mortgage arrears situation.

My focus, and that of the Government, is to ensure that as many households as possible remain in their homes and I would encourage borrowers to engage with the Abhaile Service, the national mortgage arrears resolution service, which is available free of charge. The unique element of Abhaile is that it brings together, for the first time, the full range of supports and services required by borrowers in home mortgage arrears. A dedicated adviser will work with the borrower and their lender to find the best solution for their particular situation. MABS acts as the gateway for the service and can be contacted by telephoning (076)1072000 or by accessing their website at www.mabs.ie/abhaile.