Brendan Griffin
Question:433. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if advice will be provided on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37674/22]
View answerTuesday, 12 July 2022
Questions (433)
Written answers
Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June 2022.
The purpose of this Bill is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the scheme as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. Full details can be found at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/328d7-minister-obrien-welcomes-progress-on-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme.
This Government is committed to exploring all options in pursuing potentially liable wrongdoers and I will continue to work with the Attorney General in this regard. We are also committed to ensuring it never happens again. I intend to appoint a Senior Counsel to review the causes of the defective concrete blocks issue and the options available to Government to pursue wrongdoers and make recommendations in that regard. I expect to finalise terms of reference and appoint an experienced Senior Counsel in the coming months.
It is expected that the Department of Finance will seek to progress the issue of a levy on the Construction/Quarry Industry through the 2022 Finance Bill.