Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
809. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he agrees that it is not satisfactory for one semi-detached home with defective concrete blocks to be demolished while the adjoining semi-detached home remains standing due to the eligibility criteria of the Government remediation schemes; and if he and his Department are seeking to prevent this approach. [17400/23]
View answerThe purpose of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 ('the 2022 Act'), as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021, is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the current grant scheme.
The 2022 Act which contains the enhanced grant scheme will be commenced as soon as related Regulations are completed, which Regulations provide details for the enhanced scheme not included in the 2022 Act such as application forms and templates, per square metre grant rates and the definition of damage. Draft Regulations have been prepared, which are the subject of ongoing consultation with key stakeholders, including with homeowners’ action groups, which consultation must be concluded before the Regulations will be finalised and adopted in early 2023. I extended the consultation period on the draft Regulations by an additional two weeks, to 14 March 2023, following receipt of requests for time extensions from Donegal County Council and Mayo County Council. The submissions received are now being reviewed and when that review is completed I will engage further with the homeowners' action groups before finalising the Regulations.
Both the current, and the Enhanced Scheme upon commencement of the 2022 Act, do not allow for relevant owners of more than one property to apply with a single application and each application must be submitted individually. However, owners of dwellings that are conjoined may, at their own discretion, consider hiring the same building professionals as well as commencing works on conjoined properties at the same time, if approved for grant assistance for their dwellings.
With respect to individual cases, the relevant designated local authority has responsibility for the detailed administration of the current DCB Grant scheme and the Enhanced DCB Grant scheme upon its commencement. This includes the assessment of applications and payment of grants to successful applicants under the specific remediation option approved.
