Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021
177. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider setting up an expert panel to investigate and quantify the extent of the use of defective concrete blocks in construction to assist local authorities where relevant, in view of the fact it is viewed as a waste of time and resources if each local authority must individually put that expertise in place. [46311/21]
View answerMy Department has informed councils requesting admittance to the scheme that before any extension of the scheme can be considered, the same rigorous analysis as that put in place prior to the rollout of the scheme to the counties of Donegal and Mayo would have to be undertaken.
Local authorities should endeavour to determine, using the IS: 465 protocol now in place, that issues arising in homes in their counties are in fact due to the presence of excessive amounts of deleterious materials (mica or pyrite) in the aggregate used to manufacture the concrete blocks and secondly quantify the likely extent of the problem in the local authority area. Such analysis will provide the evidential basis necessary for the consideration of any extension of the scheme.
My Department is in ongoing engagement with local authorities in respect of discussions on requests for an extension of the scheme and the relevant local authorities have positively engaged with this process. A submission in this regard has already been received from Clare County Council and that is under review and further submissions are expected from other local authorities with whom my Department is engaging.
In response to concerns being raised by homeowners in relation to the Defective Concrete Block grant scheme, I established a time-bound working group, with representatives from my Department, the local authorities and homeowner representative groups who are tasked with reviewing the operation of the scheme and providing a report with recommendations originally by 31st July. Included within the terms of reference of the working group is the issue of eligible homes and the extension of the scheme to other local authority areas.
At the request of homeowners and in order to afford them more time to consider and respond to key issues under discussion, it was agreed at the meeting held on the 27th July that the timeline for the submission of a report by the working group would be extended to the end of September, 2021. Once the deliberations of the Group have concluded, I will, following consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Attorney General, bring proposals to Government.
