Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2023
375. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update and indicative timeline on the legal action the Government intends to take against manufacturers of defective concrete blocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30929/23]
View answer376. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects applications for defective concrete block redress will go live; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30930/23]
View answer377. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware insurance companies are refusing to offer certain levels of insurance cover to homes with confirmed and suspected pyrite and mica defects and that this is causing many house sales to fall through; how he proposes to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30931/23]
View answer378. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has sanctioned a facilitator role in Clare County Council to oversee the roll-out of the expected defective concrete block redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30932/23]
View answer379. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the new facilitator roles he has approved to oversee the roll-out of defective concrete block redress at county level are being funded from the overall purse the Government has ring-fenced for redress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30937/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 375 to 379, inclusive, together.
Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022.
Priority was given in the Government Decision to developing the necessary Regulations to implement the DCB Scheme. However, as part of the decision the Government also approved the appointment of a Senior Counsel to review the defective concrete blocks issue and make recommendations on the matter. Terms of Reference are being developed in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General to progress the appointment of a Senior Counsel to review the role of the industry and regulation.
The purpose of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 ('the 2022 Act'), as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021, is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the current grant scheme.
I commenced the 2022 Act on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and aim to adopt the related Regulations, providing details for the enhanced scheme not included in the 2022 Act such as square metre grant rates and the definition of damage very shortly, upon which the enhanced grant scheme will open to applications. Comprehensive information of all aspects of the Scheme will be made available online for all existing and potential applicants once I adopt the Regulations.
With regard to the insurance aspects of underwriting houses that have been subject to certified remediation works under the current or enhanced grant schemes, I wrote to Insurance Ireland earlier this year and on 30 March 2023 received a letter from its CEO confirming that in general terms, once remediation is complete, supporting documentation would be required by an insurer to establish the condition of the property. On the basis the property is structurally sound, is certified as such, and does not pose a higher risk than a standard construction house, Insurance Ireland members would generally consider the provision of standard household cover at standard terms.
My Department has been supportive of facilitator posts to assist homeowners through the enhanced grant scheme process and has sanctioned such posts in Donegal and Mayo. Clare County Council recently made contact with my Department in relation to seeking sanction for a similar post. I understand that Clare County Council will revert with a formal submission in due course and my Department will review and reply to the Council as a matter of priority.
