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Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 September 2019

Wednesday, 25 September 2019

Questions (169, 176)

Dara Calleary

Question:

169. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the pyrite scheme for County Mayo. [38937/19]

View answer

Thomas Pringle

Question:

176. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will address the issue of the delay in implementation of the mica redress scheme in County Donegal; the number of personnel hired to date by Donegal County Council to facilitate the implementation process; the timeline of the implementation of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39025/19]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 176 together.

In October 2018, the Government approved in principle the development of a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to defective concrete blocks.

In May 2019, agreement was reached with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to allocate €20 million to a scheme for this purpose from within the €2.4 billion housing budget for 2019. Funding for future years will be agreed on an annual basis as part of the normal Estimates process.

The full terms and conditions of the scheme are being finalised, again in consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. This process will take account of the engagement that my Department is currently having with both Donegal and Mayo County Councils. In this regard, officials from my Department continue to meet with both local authority teams to discuss implementation arrangements for the scheme and further engagement will take place over the coming weeks.

On completion of this work, it is intended to revert to Government on the matter. The aim will be to complete the outstanding work without delay in order to ensure that the scheme can get underway as early as possible.

In regard to the issue of personnel hired by the local authority to facilitate the implementation process, under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, it is the Chief Executive of the Council who is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority. Consequently, the information requested is not available in my Department and is a matter for the local authority concerned.

Question No. 170 answered with Question No. 168.
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