Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2023
321. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when funding will be available for interim and emergency fire safety works for homeowners with Celtic Tiger era building defects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46197/23]
View answer322. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the draft legislation for the Celtic Tiger era building defects redress scheme be published. [46198/23]
View answer342. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether in situations where apartment or duplex complexes affected by defects receive offers from developers to address redress, he will outline how they will be affected in terms of eligibility for the future redress scheme, in circumstances where the developers’ payments do not cover all of the necessary work and other work needs to be paid for by the OMC; and if this extra money will be recoverable under the coming redress scheme. [46630/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 321, 322 and 342 together.
Since the receipt of Government approval in January of this year, I have been working to progress the various programmes of work that are required to place the scheme 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 on a statutory footing.
The Housing Agency will play a central role in the remediation scheme when it becomes operational. It has established a web portal to serve as a knowledge base and OMCs may indicate their potential interest in the future remediation scheme by inputting information on their developments on the portal which is available on the Housing Agency's website. It should be noted that this portal, which is subject to conditions of use, is not a formal registration mechanism for the future remediation scheme.
Work is also underway to draft the required legislation, which will include the scope, eligibility and conditions of the remediation scheme. The Government has agreed that remediation costs already incurred or levied prior to the introduction of the scheme will be covered under the scheme once such costs fall within the scope and defined parameters of the scheme. The details and mechanics of this are being worked out as the legislation is drafted.
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. I expect the draft legislation to be published in the first half of 2024 and, subject to the legislative process, it is intended that the statutory scheme will be in place later in 2024.
