Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2022
296. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the fire safety defects uncovered at Phoenix Park Racecourse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61699/22]
View answer310. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will reimburse those who have funded essential fire remediation works on their properties that were defective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62143/22]
View answer311. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the remediation scheme for those who own defective apartments with fire risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62144/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 296, 310 and 311 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 with a view to bringing forward specific proposals to Government by the end of the year. In addition, an advisory group has been 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.
I have also written to opposition leaders requesting their input on how best to address the issues identified in the Report.
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
It would be a matter for the local fire services authority to consider fire safety issues in relation to specific developments.
