Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 October 2022
87. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures that he can take to protect second-hand homebuyers from purchasing homes with defective concrete blocks, given the growing number of homes and counties affected across the State; and if he has engaged with the legal, engineering and estate-agent representative bodies on this issue. [53715/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing 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 the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022.
The purpose of this Act is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the scheme as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. Full details can be found at
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/328d7-minister-obrien-welcomes-progress-on-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme/.
My Department recently published a comprehensive and updated “Your Questions Answered” document on the Department’s website to ensure homeowners have the most up to date information available to them. It can be accessed at www.gov.ie/en/publication/775c0-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme-your-questions-answered/
I understand that the conveyancing process in Ireland, which is under the remit of the Minister for Justice, provides for mechanisms to enable purchasers of second hand houses to enquire as to the nature, quality and condition of a property prior to purchase.
