The Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme is primarily a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks.
The Scheme outlines five remedial options ranging from rebuilding on existing foundations to replacing of external walls. The maximum approved costs per dwelling under the scheme are significant and range from €55,00 to €275,000 depending on the remedial option. A grant of 90% of the approved costs associated with the necessary remediation works, subject to a maximum for each remedial option, or 90% of the actual cost of the remedial works, whichever is the lesser, is available under the Scheme.
The Defective Concrete Blocks Grants Scheme only opened for applications at the end of June, 2020 and applications received to date are being processed by the respective counties. When a significant number of applicants have gone through the evaluation process, actual costs and data on the various remediation options will be available. The operation of the Scheme will be kept under review and all feedback from the respective local authorities on the administration of the Scheme will be considered.
Separately, the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board, and for the making of a Pyrite Remediation Scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency. The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material and not to damage arising in any other circumstance, e.g. such as pyrite or mica in concrete blocks.
