Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2023
387. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the procedure to be followed by a person (details supplied); the status of the remediation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29499/23]
View answerThe purpose of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 ('the 2022 Act') is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the current grant scheme, as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. The administrative areas of the following counties have been designated by the 2022 Act for the purposes of the enhanced grant scheme: Clare County Council; Donegal County Council; Limerick City and County Council; Mayo County Council.
Under the Enhanced Grant Scheme the Housing Agency will act as agents on behalf of the local authorities. Applications received by a local authority will be referred to the Housing Agency to review the ‘Building Condition Assessment Report’ and determine if the home has met the ‘damage threshold’ for entry to the scheme. Once a home has met the damage threshold for entry to the scheme, the Housing Agency will arrange for the assessment, sampling testing and categorisation of dwellings on a priority basis in accordance with the national standard IS 465 and thereafter determine the appropriate remediation option and grant amount.
The 2022 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 such as application forms and templates, per square metre grant rates and the definition of damage.
I aim to commence the 2022 Act and adopt the Regulations shortly. Comprehensive information of all aspects of the Scheme will be made available online for all existing and potential applicants once commenced.
