Written answers
Tuesday, 29 July 2025
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Defective Building Materials
Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1579. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government in the context of the mica issue, the way he is ensuring that current rebuilds meet appropriate structural standards, particularly in high-rebuild areas like Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42869/25]
Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1582. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his assessment of the impact to date of his Department’s overall response to the mica crisis compared with the earlier pyrite scheme in terms of timing, regional consistency and scheme design; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42908/25]
Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1583. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government in view of the fact the mica scheme offers a maximum grant of €462,000, if he is aware that many homeowners report receiving significantly less due to square meter limits and capped supports for accommodation, storage and engineering; and his views on whether the current model reflects a fair and practical approach to redress in its real-world outcomes, especially in areas such as Donegal and the northwest. [42909/25]
Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1584. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the rationale for delivering the mica scheme through local authorities instead of a centralised body such as the Pyrite Resolution Board; and the way this approach has helped with consistency, rebuild timelines and overall homeowner experience across affected counties. [42910/25]
James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1579 and 1582 to 1584, inclusive, together.
Building on the work of the previous Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant scheme, 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 DCB Scheme is neither a redress nor a compensation scheme, rather it is a grant scheme of last resort to assist affected homeowners remediate their homes.
It is a complex issue which the Government is addressing by allocating a significant amount of funding to affected homeowners to enable them to rebuild their homes where necessary. The overall cost of the scheme is expected to be in excess of €2.2 billion. The Government is making sure that the Scheme is designed and delivered in a manner that meets the needs of homeowners in an efficient and effective manner. Currently (at the end June 2025) 2,796 homeowners are at various stages of the scheme.
My Department keeps the DCB Scheme under continuous review through consistent and regular stakeholder engagement. 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 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 and my officials had a follow up visit to the County last week.
In Q4 of last year the Government provided for an 10% increase in the DCB Scheme cap (to €462,000) and to increases in the scheme grant rates of between 7.4% and 8.7%. These increases recognise the impact of construction inflation on homeowners in the scheme and were made following the receipt and consideration of updated cost reports from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and advice from the Expert Group established to consider the matter.
Provision for alternative accommodation costs, storage costs and immediate repair works to a maximum value of €25,000 are provided for within the overall grant cap. These amounts also increased by 10% (from 23 October 2024) to a maximum value of €27,500 and within this vouched accommodation costs are an allowable cost subject to a maximum of €16,500 per household in the event that the applicant has to move out when remediation works are ongoing.
My Department sought legal advice that confirmed that extending these increases to a wider group of relevant owners, i.e. those who had already received a determination but were experiencing increased constructions costs during their ongoing remediation works, required amending the Act.
I can confirm 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 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 legislation will be prioritised and progressed as expeditiously as possible. However, it should be noted that amending the Act is ultimately a matter for the Oireachtas.
The approach taken under the Pyrite Remediation Scheme (PRS) was considered in the development of the DCB Grant Scheme. However, due to the different scale of both schemes and the flexibility sought by DCB homeowners, the DCB Grant scheme required a different approach.
The Pyrite Remediation Scheme relates to dwellings that have been significantly damaged as a result of pyritic heave caused by the swelling of hardcore under ground floor slabs. This scheme aims to repair certain homes affected by significant pyritic damage where the homeowners have no other practicable option.
In contrast, the DCB Grant Scheme relates to dwellings which are damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks.
There is only one remediation option under the Pyrite Scheme and the works are repetitive from home to home, which tend to be clustered.
Under the DCB scheme there are five potential remediation options with a bespoke solution potentially required for each affected home.
The design and construction of buildings is regulated under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2020, which provides for the making of Building Regulations and Building Control Regulations.
The Building Regulations set out the minimum legal performance requirements for the construction of new buildings (including dwellings), extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings, with the purpose of protecting the health, safety and welfare of people in and around buildings. The requirements are set out in 12 Parts, including matters such as structure, site preparation and resistance to moisture, material and workmanship etc.
The primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings. Implementation and enforcement of the building control system is a function of the 31 local building control authorities (BCAs), established in each local authority.
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