Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2022
369. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will engage with insurance companies and the Fire Service to delay any evacuations from an apartment block (details supplied) pending the introduction of a support scheme by his Department and the procurement of remedial works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54447/22]
View answer370. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps that owners of defective apartments in Dublin south central should take given that they have each recently received a bill for €8,500 to be paid within 30 days as the first payment for remedial work on their apartment complex; if he will acknowledge that this is an unacceptable financial imposition on these homeowners, which will cause untold distress, with many unable to pay during a cost-of-living crisis; if he will clearly outline the steps that they should take under these circumstances; if he will confirm when there will be a redress scheme in place for those affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54462/22]
View answer415. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to reports that many owners of defective apartments are facing immediate demands for substantial payments from management companies for remedial work, and in one case in Dublin, face the loss of basement car park spaces as a result of the enforcement of safety notices; when the residents of such apartments can expect State aid; if he has any plans to provide emergency funding to such residents before Christmas 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55306/22]
View answer423. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the course of action that owners of apartments with fire defects should take now that they have been presented with bills to fix the issue while they await the announcement of a remedial scheme from his Department. [55533/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 369, 370, 415 and 423 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.
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. I fully acknowledge the difficulties that homeowners and residents of many apartments and duplexes are facing, and the stress that is caused when defects arise in relation to their buildings.
In that context, 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. I am currently, in consultation with Government colleagues, in the process of developing options with a view to providing support to homeowners who find themselves in a difficult financial situation through no fault of their own.
In this regard, I have established an inter–departmental/agency group to bring forward specific proposals to Government by the end of the year. Membership of this group includes local authority fire services.
In addition, an advisory group is being established to develop a Code of Practice in the context of the Fire Services Acts, to provide guidance to building professionals and local authority building control / fire services, including guidance on interim safety measures. It is expected that membership of this advisory group will also include officers of local authority fire services.
As this work progresses, I am committed to continuing to liaise with key stakeholders such as homeowner representatives and the insurance sector. My Department is also engaging with the Housing Agency for the provision of advice in relation to implementation of the recommendations of the Report.
Given that the overall potential scale and estimated cost of fixing the problem is so considerable, the Working Group recognised that it will take many years to address all buildings affected, and resources and works will therefore need to be prioritised. In this regard, it would not be appropriate for those in charge of affected buildings to delay the undertaking of any remediation work that is considered necessary from a life safety point of view.
