Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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100. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the Government has any plans to address the shortcomings of the enhanced defective block grant scheme which continue to have a significant impact on those affected by the defective concrete blocks crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35832/25]

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 Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) grant scheme and related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023.

An Implementation Steering Group for the DCB Grant scheme has been in place since 2023. The Group comprises officials from the relevant local authorities, my Department, the Housing Agency, and the Homeowner's Liaison Officer. This Group meets regularly (every 4-6 weeks) and keeps the operation of the scheme under review and is tasked with working through issues as they arise and making recommendations if further changes to the regulations or guidelines are needed. This group provides a useful forum for discussion and feedback on operational and emerging matters around the scheme and draws attention to issues faced by applicants. The most recent engagement took place on 22 May 2025, with the next meeting scheduled for 10 July 2025.

This regular stakeholder engagement is augmented by regular meetings with elected representatives and homeowner groups. I myself recently visited Donegal and met with the Council and various representative groups. Thus I am aware keenly aware of the issues of ongoing concern that homeowners have with the Scheme.

I received Government approval (on 4 June, 2025) for the priority drafting of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Bill which includes details of the wider group of relevant owners that can avail of the increases in the grant scheme cap and rates approved in October and November 2024. The Bill will also include other technical amendments to ensure the continued smooth operation of the grant scheme for homeowners. This process was usefully informed by the continuous engagement process that my Department has put in place since the current DCB Scheme launched in 2023.

The National Standards Authority Ireland (NSAI) has been tasked with the review of the technical standard- I.S. 465:2018- that underpins the DCB Grant Scheme. Upon conclusion of the public consultation period the NSAI will finalise its review and publish the revised standard. As Minister, I am obliged to commence a review of the operation of the Act within three months of the completion of any review of I.S. 465:2018 by the NSAI. A report to each House of the Oireachtas of the findings and conclusions resulting from that review is required not later than three months after the completion of the review.

Section 51 of the Act mandates that I commence a review of the operation of the Act by June 2026 (three years after the Act's commencement) and make a report to each House of the Oireachtas regarding the findings and conclusions of such a review within a further 12 month period.