Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 May 2023
113. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the building defects redress scheme and the provision of funding for interim and emergency works. [22014/23]
View answerSince the receipt of Government approval in January to draft legislation to establish supports for the remediation of fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013, I have been working to progress the various programmes of work that are required to place the remediation scheme on a statutory footing. A key aspect of this work is developing a Code of Practice in the context of the Fire Services Acts, to provide guidance to relevant professionals, including guidance on interim safety measures.
The scheme will incorporate a means or methodology, based on the Code of Practice, for prioritising the allocation and nature of support and funding, including the funding of interim measures, to ensure that the highest risk buildings will be the first to be supported.
In order to ensure that important life-safety works are not paused, remediation works related to fire safety defects, entered into or commenced from 18 January 2023, will form part of the remediation scheme, subject to terms and conditions. The details of this process are currently being worked out.
Work is underway to draft the required legislation, which will include the scope, eligibility and conditions of the remediation scheme. While I am working on the development of the scheme as a matter of priority, sufficient time is required to draft the legislation to ensure that the scheme is fit for purpose, provides value for tax payer’s money and contains appropriate oversight and governance measures.
