Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 September 2022
21. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the new remediation of dwellings damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks scheme will be operational and accepting applications. [47329/22]
View answer72. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expected timeline for the roll-out of the planned defective concrete block redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47280/22]
View answer143. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he intends to commence the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022, which was rushed through the Houses of the Oireachtas at the end of the past term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47396/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 72 and 143 together.
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 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. The Act includes significant improvements to the current scheme and includes the following enhancements:
- 100% grants subject to an overall maximum grant of €420,000 per dwelling;
- grant rates in keeping with advice from SCSI;
- a government guarantee in the form of a second grant option if required for a period of 40 years;
- a revised application process which removes the financial barrier to scheme entry;
- an independent appeals process for applicants;
- alternative accommodation and storage costs and immediate repair works to a maximum value of €25,000;
- the expertise of the Housing Agency in assessing applications;
- the inclusion of RTB registered rental properties;
- the inclusion of Clare and Limerick in the enhanced scheme upon commencement and the option for other counties to enter the scheme; and
- exempt development status for like for like remediation works completed under the scheme.
The priority now is to ensure regulations which are necessary to provide for the finer details around which the new and enhanced scheme will operate are prepared and signed off as soon as possible.
I can confirm work on drafting these regulations has begun and is being undertaken by my officials and will apply in respect of all matters within the Act which are to be or may be prescribed such as the damage threshold, the grant rates and the form and content of various reports, certificates, forms, declarations etc
Guidelines to facilitate, promote and support a consistent approach to the operation and administration of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme will also be drafted by my Department. The aim and intention is to have the regulations and guidelines finalised before the end of the year with the scheme opening for applications as soon as possible thereafter, which I expect will only be a matter of weeks later.
