I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 148 together.
Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June and I intend to progress the legislation before the end of term in order to ensure that we can have the scheme ready for homeowners to access by the end of the year.
The Bill will allow us to progress on key decisions made by Government last November including a 100% grant, to an overall maximum grant amount payable to an applicant under the scheme in the sum of €420,000 and the removal of the financial barrier to scheme entry which is a feature of the current scheme, thereby reducing the cost for homeowners from up to €7,000 to an estimated €500/€700 which will be recoupable under the scheme by approved homeowners.
The decision made by Government last November called for a number of reviews to be completed. This included a review of the I.S. 465:2018 standard and the consideration of other potentially deleterious material e.g. pyrrhotite and the impact, if any, on foundations. I have asked NSAI to review I.S. 465 and carry out all necessary research as a matter of priority. It is currently understood that foundations are not impacted by the defective concrete blocks issue and there is currently no evidence to support claims that they are. Foundations can be left in situ and built upon and this is the approach recommended in the current I.S. 465 standard.
Under the enhanced scheme homeowners will not be precluded from carrying out works over and above those approved for funding on the understanding that no grant funding will be given in respect of those works. The only limitation within the Bill is that in the case of demolition and rebuild of a home the rebuild must be in the same position on the land of the dwelling approved for demolition and rebuild.
Once the necessary review has been concluded and any revised standard published I can confirm that the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme will be reviewed at that point having regard to any amended standard.
