Defective Building Materials

Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Questions (479)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

479. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider amending the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 to allow some families with a child or adult with disabilities to remain in their home with defective concrete blocks, while a new home is built on an adjoining site and then demolish the original home, to reflect the serious difficulty in securing a suitable home to rent during those works. [15446/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Remediation of Dwellings Damage by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the current grant scheme and related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023.

The scheme facilitates the remediation of existing houses that have been damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks. The construction of new separate additional houses is not grant funded.

The Act, as set down by the Oireachtas provides that exempt development status shall automatically apply to remediation works approved under the grant scheme subject to certain provisions set out in Section 28 of the Act. Importantly, remediation works shall only be exempt where on completion of remediation works the dwelling house is not inconsistent with or materially different from the appearance and character of the original dwelling house.

I have asked my Department to consider this matter further.