Eoin Ó Broin
Question:140. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the revised defective concrete block redress scheme. [49053/23]
View answerThursday, 9 November 2023
Questions (140)
Written answers
The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 which contains the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant Scheme commenced on 22 June 2023 and the related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023. The enhanced scheme provides very considerable enhancements over the old Scheme for eligible homeowners.
Since the commencement of the enhanced scheme in June of this year the Housing Agency have received a total of 415 applications from Donegal and Mayo which have been dealt with under transitional arrangements. Of these, 323 determinations have issued to the local authorities confirming that the damage threshold has been met. With regard to applications to the enhanced scheme, the Housing Agency have received 63 applications from the four designated local authorities, of which 17 determinations have issued to the local authorities confirming that the damage threshold has been met.
As this is a new scheme, dealing with a complex issue, I have also established an Implementation Steering Group to work through issues around the DCB scheme as they arise and make recommendations if further changes to the regulations or guidelines on the Scheme are needed. The Group comprises the relevant local authorities, my Department, the Housing Agency, and the Homeowner's Liaison Officer and has met in August, September, October and also early November. This Group will report directly to me and will prepare a report on the first six months of operation of the scheme.