Alan Dillon
Question:278. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress in relation to the defective concrete blocks grants scheme for counties Donegal and Mayo. [32475/21]
View answerThursday, 17 June 2021
Questions (278)
Written answers
The regulations for the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme came in to operation on 31 January 2020. The Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 provide for a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo only, to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks. The scheme opened for applications at the end of June 2020.
Budget 2021 provides funding of €20 million to fund the operation of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme for the counties of Donegal and Mayo. As of 11 June 2021, a total of 448 "Stage 1 - Confirmation of Eligibility" applications have been made, of which 296 have been approved. Following confirmation of eligibility there is an inevitable time lag before Stage 2 applications are submitted by applicants as remedial works plans are developed and estimates from contractors are secured. A total of 44 applications for "Stage 2 - Grant Approval" have been made, of which 16 have been approved.
Engagement between my Department, the local authorities and local action groups will continue in relation to any improvements in supports to affected homeowners. In this regard, I have proposed a timebound working group, with representatives from my Department, the local authorities and homeowner representative groups, to review and address any outstanding issues in relation to the operation of the Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme, including issues such as grant caps, homeowner contributions, engineering and allowable costs etc. I propose that the recommendations of this working group will inform any changes or improvements to the scheme as may be required, which I will bring forward in conjunction with my Government colleagues, and in particular in consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Attorney General.