Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2021
309. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that across media channels the defective block grant scheme is repeatedly mooted as a mica redress scheme and that this is impacting very negatively on persons in County Clare who are of the view that they will be excluded from the prospective scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61626/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 provide for a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks.
Whilst the terms mica or pyrite scheme are used widely in media reporting my Department can confirm that the correct name for the scheme is the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme. Any extension of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme to additional local authority areas will ensure that homeowners in those counties, whose homes are impacted by excessive amounts of reactive pyrite or mica in the blockwork, in accordance with the IS:465 protocol and the scheme regulations and guidance, would be eligible to apply for grant assistance to help with the cost of necessary remediation works.
