Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
560. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has taken into consideration or conducted a study to determine or examine the costs associated with making an application or submission for redress to the financial assistance scheme for the remediation of damaged dwellings due to defective concrete blocks in County Donegal. [30580/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra619. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an audit will be carried out of all public and private buildings in counties Donegal and Mayo that could be affected with MICA; if so, if it will be ensured that the cost of the engineering survey is not a barrier to families being able to apply for redress; if it will be ensured that redress will be 100% of the cost to fix the damage done to buildings; if an investigation will be carried out of the way MICA contaminated building materials were not checked for contamination; if the reason building regulations were not enforced will be investigated; if the reason the firm at the heart of the supply of the MICA contaminated building materials is still supplying material to Donegal County Council will be investigated; if he will meet with representatives of a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31464/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 560 and 619 together.
The cracking of external walls of dwellings in Donegal and Mayo, due to the crumbling of concrete blockwork, came to light in 2013. An Expert Panel was established in 2016 to investigate the matter. It was chaired by Mr Denis McCarthy (former Chief Executive of Waterford Co Co) and it included representatives nominated by the National Standards Authority of Ireland, Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland, and the Institute of Geologists of Ireland.
Their Report (available on the Departments webiste) was published on 13 June 2017. It concluded, inter alia, that the disintegration of the concrete blocks used in the construction of the affected dwellings in Donegal and Mayo was primarily due to excessive amounts of deleterious materials in the aggregate used to manufacture the concrete blocks. The deleterious material in Donegal was primarily muscovite mica and in Mayo it was primarily reactive pyrite.
The panel estimated that the scale of the problem in Donegal as being between 1,200 to 4,800 private dwellings and 541 to 1,000 social housing dwellings. In the case of Mayo, the panel estimates that the minimum potential number of private dwellings likely to be affected is approximately 345 and a total of 17 social housing units across 3 estates are known to be affected.
Rigorous analysis therefore has already been carried out in relation to the construction of dwellings which are affected by the use of defective concrete blocks, with chapter three of the report specifically relating to building regulations and oversight.
The resulting Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme was informed by the work of the Expert Panel and the current maximum grant amounts payable under the scheme were finalised in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This process also took account of the comprehensive engagement that took place between my Department and both Donegal and Mayo County Councils, who operate and administer the scheme.
The grant limits agreed on foot of this engagement ensures that the scheme can be budgeted for with the potential financial liability known at all times and also to ensure that the available budget can benefit the majority of properties and the maximum number of people.
In the first instance homeowners apply to the local authority seeking confirmation of eligibility for the scheme. As part of this application process, an approved engineers report in accordance with I.S. 465:2018 is required. The report confirms the existence or otherwise of excessive amounts of pyrite or mica in the blockwork which have given rise to defective concrete blocks and is based on a visual inspection, core sampling and laboratory testing which is carried out by the engineer employed by the homeowner. The cost of the report can vary from home to home but the scheme allows for recoupment of 90% of the cost to eligible applicants, subject to a maximum recoupment of €6,300. I understand that feedback from homeowners who have been through the stage 1 process is that the costs allowable for stage 1 are in line with the costs being incurred.
Budget 2021 provides funding of €20 million to fund the operation of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme for the counties of Donegal and Mayo. At this stage 433 stage one applications have been submitted and nearly 54% have been approved.
Local authorities are independent legal entities whose purchasing activities are governed by public procurment rules. It would not be appropriate therefore for my Department to comment on the individual purchasing decisions of local authorities.
Lastly, engagement between my Department, the local authorities and local action groups in relation to the scheme will continue. In this regard, I have proposed a timebound working group, with representatives from my Department, the local authorities and homeowner representative groups, to review and address any outstanding issues in relation to the operation of the scheme, including issues such as grant caps, homeowner contributions, engineering and allowable costs etc. I propose that the recommendations of this working group will inform any changes or improvements to the scheme as may be required, which I will bring forward in conjunction with my Government colleagues, and in particular in consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Attorney General.
