Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 September 2022
31. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants for the defective concrete block grant scheme in County Donegal who are stuck in stage 1, awaiting the outcome of the review of IS 465 by the National Standards Authority of Ireland. [47328/22]
View answerFollowing 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 and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022.
The purpose of this Act 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/.
Local authorities have responsibility for the administration of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme. This includes the assessment of applications for eligibility and payment of grants to successful applicants under the specific remediation option approved.
The specific information requested is not held by my Department and may be requested from Donegal County Council. My Department has been in ongoing communication with Donegal County Council on issues which have arisen with administration of the DCB scheme and has recently sought clarification on and a breakdown down of those Stage 1 applications on which decisions have not issued. On receipt of the requested information from the Council a follow up meeting will take place.
