Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2020
1074. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the criteria for qualifying as a principal private residence for the purposes of the MICA redress scheme; if the scheme will be amended in order that non-principal private residence houses are also eligible for redress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11166/20]
View answerI made Regulations under sections 2 and 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1979, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to provide for 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, entitled Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 25 of 2020).
The Regulations, which provide the legal framework for the grant scheme of financial assistance, came into operation on 31 January 2020, and my Department has recently issued guidelines to the relevant local authorities. These guidelines will facilitate, promote and support a consistent approach to the operation and administration of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme by Donegal and Mayo County Councils. The aim now is for the relevant local authorities to commence the receipt of applications without delay, and by 30 June at the latest.
The scheme is targeted at assisting a restricted group of homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo, who have no other practicable options to access redress for their home. It is not a compensation scheme and the regulations apply only in respect of qualifying works that have not commenced prior to confirmation of grant approval being issued in respect of a dwelling by the relevant local authority.
The dwelling must be a homeowner’s principal private residence, that is, a house or apartment which an individual owns and occupies as his or her only or main residence. Homeowners cannot seek the recoupment of costs associated with the remediation of a dwelling undertaken either prior to the commencement, or outside, of the scheme. This is in line with how similar Government schemes operate or have operated in the past, where prior approval is a key eligibility requirement. I have no proposals to amend the eligibility criterion.
In accordance with the provisions of the Regulations, Donegal and Mayo County Councils, who are independent in the performance of their functions, will operate and administer the defective concrete blocks grant scheme and may be contacted in that regard. As Minister, I have no role in the operational matters pertaining to the implementation of the scheme.
Budget 2020 provides funding of €40 million to fund the operation of the pyrite remediation scheme and the defective concrete blocks grant scheme. Funding for future years will be agreed on an annual basis as part of the normal Estimates process and additional funding can be provided should it be required. Mindful that the scheme is being funded from the Exchequer the scope of the scheme cannot be open ended. The funding available must be used prudently to achieve the most efficient and cost effective outcomes.
