Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2024
289. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports made available for persons affected by defective concrete blocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20690/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
The Scheme provides very considerable enhancements for eligible homeowners, over the earlier 2020 Scheme including 100% of the costs of the remediation works approved subject to the grant rates and overall maximum grant of €420,000 per dwelling. It should be noted the current (and previous) DCB Grant Schemes are not compensation or redress schemes. They are remediation grant schemes of last resort, put in place by Government in order to voluntarily assist homeowners to remediate damage caused by the use of defective concrete blocks.
Under the Scheme, temporary alternative accommodation for defective concrete block homeowners is available, whereby vouched accommodation costs are an allowable cost within the scheme, subject to a maximum of €15,000 per household in the event that the applicant has to move out when remediation works are ongoing. Removal of contents/house components and their temporary storage and reinstatement on completion are also an allowable cost, subject to a maximum of €5,000. A further €5,000 is available for essential immediate repairs relating to the structural stability of any part of an affected home which are recommended on foot of a competent building professional's Building Condition Assessment process. Each of these additional grant payments are subject to the overall maximum grant cap of €420,000.
I fully acknowledge the difficulties that homeowners are facing and the Government is committed to helping those whose lives have been impacted by this issue. The Department of Health has worked with the HSE to ensure that mental health supports are available through My Mind and homeowners can visit www.mymind.org and register for the service.
I have also been supportive of applications by designated local authorities for Defective Concrete Block Facilitator posts to support homeowners through the grant scheme process.
The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) is to introduce bespoke arrangements to assist DCB homeowners to access the existing SEAI energy efficiency retrofitting grant scheme as seamlessly as possible and for SEAI to undertake a focused communications campaign in the affected region to maximise awareness and uptake. I understand DECC will shortly make a submission to Government regarding the proposed SEAI DCB scheme.
Other grants may be available to DCB homeowners on similar terms and conditions as apply to all homeowners in the State such as septic tank grants, housing adaptation grants etc. Affected homeowners are encouraged to enquire to their relevant local authority in relation to such grants.
