Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
770. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has determined the number of houses in the ownership of Mayo County Council that have tested for pyrite; if these homes will be demolished and rebuilt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28238/23]
View answerI understand the question refers to the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme.
The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 ("the Act") which contains the enhanced grant scheme will be commenced as soon as related Regulations are completed. The Regulations will provide details for the enhanced scheme not included in the 2022 Act.
Section 36 of the Act provides that the Government may make a further DCB scheme for the purposes of enabling a designated local authority or an approved housing body to remedy damage caused to dwellings by the use of defective concrete blocks in their construction. The grant rates for this local authority and approved housing body DCB scheme shall be the same as the enhanced DCB grant scheme.
In order to assist with the necessary administrative and governance arrangements to be put in place prior to the roll out of this local authority and approved housing body scheme, my Department is working to develop a pilot scheme with Donegal County Council on local authority homes which are impacted. While my Department has no specific information on the numbers of local authority houses affected in Mayo this pilot scheme will inform the approach to be taken in that local authority functional area.
I aim to commence the 2022 Act and adopt the Regulations in the coming weeks.
