Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
826. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has assessed the number of homeowners nationally who remediated defective concrete block damage at their own expense prior to the introduction of the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme, in circumstances where no State support was available; and if so, to provide details of that assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12876/26]
View answer827. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has carried out any costing in relation to providing retrospective or partial financial support to homeowners who undertook verified remediation works in good faith before the establishment of the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme, and if so, to provide details if his Department has carried out any costing in relation to providing retrospective or partial financial support to homeowners who undertook verified remediation works in good faith before the establishment of the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme, and if so, to provide details; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12877/26]
View answer828. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he accepts that the current operation of the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme results in unequal treatment between homeowners who remediated defective concrete block damage prior to the scheme and those who did not, despite comparable levels of structural damage, and if not, to outline the basis for this position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12878/26]
View answer829. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the consideration given by his Department to recognising documented historic remediation works, including engineering reports and contractor invoices, for the purposes of eligibility or financial support under the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12879/26]
View answer830. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has examined the potential financial, legal, and compensation exposure to the State arising from the exclusion of homeowners who remediated defective concrete block damage prior to the introduction of the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme; and if so, to provide details; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12880/26]
View answer831. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has assessed the number of residential properties affected by defective concrete blocks within the area of Fingal County Council; the basis on which that local authority area is currently excluded from the scheme; when a decision will be made on its inclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12881/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 826, 827, 828, 829, 830 and 831 together.
The Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) grant scheme was established by my Department and approved by Government to assist certain homeowners to remediate defects to their dwellings caused by defective concrete blocks containing excessive amounts of deleterious material. Its primary aim is to remediate and ensure the habitability of homes.
The first DCB grant scheme (often referred to as the “90-10” Scheme) came into effect in January 2020. Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 to significantly enhance the DCB grant scheme, the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (2022 Act), which underpins the enhanced Defective Concrete Block (DCB) Scheme, was commenced in June 2023.
My Department does not assess, or carry out costing reports in relation to, the number of people who may have remediated defective concrete block damage to their properties before the introduction of, or in local authority areas currently outside of, the DCB Scheme.
It should be noted the 2022 Act, as approved by the Oireachtas, does not provide for the retrospective payment of remediation grants, where remediation work was completed prior to entry to the scheme.
The Scheme is currently open to applications in five counties, namely Clare, Donegal, Limerick, Mayo and Sligo.
On the basis of the recommendations made by the Agency in their final report to me, I intend to shortly bring the matter to Government seeking approval for the making of an Order designating the relevant parts of Fingal County Council as being part of the DCB Scheme.
