Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
711. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rationale for maintaining separate cost calculation methodologies for the defective concrete blocks grant scheme and SEAI energy upgrade grants; whether this separation explicitly excludes energy efficiency upgrades from the DCB scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30310/26]
View answer712. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the unit rates used in the defective concrete blocks scheme are aligned with 2007 Building Regulations or another baseline; the reason current building regulations standards are not applied in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30311/26]
View answer713. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether there are plans to align the defective concrete blocks scheme with current energy efficiency standards in future revisions; and if discussions have taken place with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30316/26]
View answer714. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given that the defective concrete blocks grant scheme applies unit rates aligned to 2007 Building Regulations, and further given that certain elements of construction such as double glazing to 2007 specifications are no longer commercially available, whether the use of currently available alternatives such as triple glazing is classified as "betterment" rather than necessary replacement within the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30317/26]
View answer730. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the definition of “betterment” under the defective concrete blocks scheme; whether upgrades such as triple glazing and heat pumps are formally excluded from grant eligibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30665/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 711, 712, 713, 714 and 730 together.
The Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant Scheme and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Grant Scheme are two separate schemes operating on different conditions both providing financial supports to DCB impacted homeowners.
The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (as amended) underpins the Grant Scheme which provides grant funding to people whose homes have been affected by DCB.
The DCB Scheme enables affected homeowners whose homes are impacted by DCB remediate their homes and move on with their lives. This Scheme offers funding for rebuilding or remediation to the current standard of the home. The terms of the scheme, as legislated for, provides for like for like, that is, the replacement of the home to the standard of the building regulations at the time it was built.
Homeowners may however carry out such additional upgrades under the scheme but the marginal cost of such works must be paid for by the homeowner, in the same way as non-defective concrete block affected homeowners must pay for upgrades to their homes.
The SEAI Grant Scheme under the aegis of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment offers a range of grants to help improve a home’s energy efficiency.
In 2024 the SEAI announced measures to help households availing of the DCB Scheme to also access SEAI grants to improve the energy performance of their homes under similar terms and conditions as those which apply to all homeowners in the State. These changes meant that households in the DCB Scheme have the opportunity to avail of SEAI grants of up to €37,500. This amount is in addition to the grants available for affected homeowners under the DCB Scheme.
The SEAI scheme provides grants for energy upgrades including measures like heat pumps, insulation, windows and doors to support DCB affected homeowners to upgrade the energy efficiency and comfort of their home.
The cap and rates for the DCB scheme are informed by cost reports produced by the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland (SCSI) and work undertaken by the Expert Group in determining appropriate grant rates for the scheme.
