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Defective Building Materials

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 November 2025

Wednesday, 26 November 2025

Questions (204)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

204. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that homeowners who have applied for the defective concrete blocks grant scheme are increasingly being directed to demolish the outer and inner leaf walls of their dwellings whilst simultaneously retaining the entire roof structure; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that few engineers and building contractors are willing to professionally undertake or oversee this type of work; the way in which he proposes to address the scheme to factor for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66412/25]

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Written answers

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

There are five remedial options available under the Grant Scheme.

Remedial Option

Remedial Works Description

Remedial Option

Remedial Works Description

Option 1

Demolition of the entire relevant dwelling and reconstruction of the dwelling on the exact position on the land on which the relevant dwelling was situated before it was demolished.

Option 2

Demolish and rebuild external walls (both outer and inner leafs) down to foundation on a phased basis and re-render.

Option 3

Demolish and rebuild external walls (both outer and internal leafs) down to top of rising wall on a phased basis and re-render.

Option 4

Demolish and rebuild external walls (outer leaf only) down to top of rising wall on a phased basis and re-render.

Option 5

Demolish and rebuild outer leaf of affected walls only and re-render.

The Housing Agency acts as agent on behalf of the local authorities under the grant scheme. Once a home has met the damage threshold for entry to the scheme, the Housing Agency engages its Framework of Chartered Engineers to undertake the assessment, survey, sampling, testing and categorisation of the dwelling 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.

Homeowners should engage a competent building professional to design the remediation works approved or being carried out and prepare a remedial works plan in that regard. The homeowner will be required to retain the services of their competent building professional throughout the project.

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