Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 March 2025
106. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when an assessment will be carried out on a home (details supplied) in County Donegal that the Housing Agency has determined meets the damage threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9912/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) was commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
The detailed operation of the Scheme is a matter for the designated local authorities with the Housing Agency acting as agents of the local authorities under the grant scheme.
Local authorities have responsibility for the administration of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme. This includes the initial validation of applications, notifying homeowners of the Housing Agency's determinations on damage threshold, the appropriate remediation option and grant amount, determination of the grant payable for alternative accommodation and storage costs and immediate repair works and the subsequent payment of grants to successful applicants.
Once a home has met the damage threshold for entry to the scheme, the Housing Agency engage its Framework Chartered Engineers to undertake the assessment, survey, sampling, testing and categorisation of the dwelling thereafter on a priority basis in accordance with the national standard I.S. 465:2018 and thereafter determine the appropriate remediation option and grant amount in accordance with the provision of the Act.
In undertaking this work of assessing dwellings, a practical approach is taken where the Housing Agency prioritises dwellings on relative severity and impact of damage and proximity of dwellings to other affected properties.
Any queries on individual applications should be addressed to the relevant local authority in the first instance.
