Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2022
328. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will announce a package to deal with the issue of apartment fire defects in Celtic tiger-era apartments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50064/22]
View answerThe 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. 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. 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.
