Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2022
275. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider supporting apartment owners who need to address fire safety issues in their apartment blocks, given these property owners are not at fault in terms of the problem but are faced with huge bills to have the matter addressed and, in the meantime, lives are endangered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48105/22]
View answer278. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will reply to this Deputy on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48132/22]
View answer322. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has addressed issues raised in a budget 2023 submission from an organisation (details supplied) as part of the recent budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48584/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 275, 278 and 322 together.
The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to examine defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing’s report Safe as Houses?, and to assist owners of latent defect properties by identifying options for those impacted by defects, to access low-cost, long-term finance. In response, in February 2021, I established a Working Group to examine the matter. The Group was chaired by former Donegal County Council CEO Seamus Neely.
I received the comprehensive report of the Working Group on 28 July titled Defects in Apartments - Report of the Working Group to Examine Defects in Housing, and I published it straight away.
On 27 September, I brought a Memorandum to Government to inform Government of the content of the report and of the next steps that I will be taking.
In that context, I will now, in consultation with Government colleagues, develop options with a view to providing support to homeowners who find themselves in a difficult financial situation through no fault of their own.
Firstly, an inter–departmental/agency group will be established to bring forward specific proposals to Government by the end of the year. As such, in response to Deputy O'Donovan, there is no application system in place at present.
In addition, an advisory group to develop a Code of Practice will be established to provide guidance to building professionals and local authority building control / fire services, including guidance on interim safety measures, in line with Recommendation 8 of the Working Group’s report and in the context of the Fire Services Acts.
I also intend on liaising with key stakeholders such as homeowner representatives and the insurance sector, as matters progress.
On 27 September I wrote to the organisation referred to by Deputy Shortall to inform them of this progress. My Department is also engaging with the Housing Agency for the provision of advice in relation to implementation of the recommendations of the Report.
Finally, it should be noted that the Minister for Finance announced the introduction of a 10% levy on concrete blocks and other concrete products, with an expected annual yield of €80m on 27 September. This will provide a sustainable contribution from the construction sector towards the costs of dealing with construction defects over the coming years.
