I am aware of recent views expressed by Engineers Ireland at the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage on 13th July, 2023 around professional indemnity cover while operating the previous defective concrete blocks grant scheme. The previous defective concrete blocks grant scheme ceased upon commencement of the enhanced scheme.
I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. The new scheme is now open to applications in four counties: Clare, Donegal, Limerick and Mayo with comprehensive information of all aspects of the Scheme available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/8002e-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme/.
Section 45 (1) of the 2022 Act provides that where the Minister is satisfied that a relevant person has discharged his or her duties under this Act in good faith, he or she shall indemnify the relevant person against all actions or claims howsoever arising in respect of the discharge by the relevant person of his or her duties. Section 45 (2) (b) of the 2022 Act defines an employee, servant, agent or authorised officer of the Housing Agency as a relevant person under this provision.
