Fire Safety

Tuesday, 19 May 2026

Questions (209, 597)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

209. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the interim fire safety defects remediation scheme. [37506/26]

View answer

597. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the legislation for the Celtic tiger era building defects redress scheme will be published. [37101/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 597 together.

Government approval was received on 18 September 2024 for the priority drafting of the Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill. The purpose of this legislation is to place the defects remediation Scheme on a statutory footing, further to commitments contained in the Programme for Government.

The legislation will provide supports for the remediation of relevant fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013. It is envisaged that 100% of eligible remediation costs will be funded in the relevant apartments and duplexes.

An Interim Remediation Scheme has been in place since December 2023, to provide an acceptable level of fire safety in buildings, pending introduction of the Statutory Scheme and completion of the full remedial works.

As of the end of April 2026, 264 applications to the Interim Remediation Scheme have been validated, having met the required eligibility criteria. These applications represent 22,607 residential units, with circa 75% in the Dublin region.

As part of the Interim Scheme process a number of pathfinder projects were identified to help inform the development of the legislation. I have just recently approved the final pathfinder project and all four projects across Dublin City Centre, Portmarnock, West Dublin and Kilcock are now approved for funding from my Department in the amount of €24m. Remediation works have commenced or will be commencing shortly in each case.

In February 2026, the Government announced some significant amendments to the interim Scheme in order to simplify procurement and cut through administrative hurdles, allowing works relating to fire detection and alarm systems to be completed more quickly, while ensuring residents can remain safely in their homes until full building remediation is finished.

I am conscious that a large number of homeowners in affected apartment developments have, on their own initiative and at their own expense, already addressed the defects in their homes. I brought a Memorandum for Government to Cabinet on 21 April 2026, and approval was received on a number of policy recommendations on Retrospective Grant Payments. These recommendations will inform the ongoing drafting of the legislation. I can confirm, that where works have been completed that fit the eligible parameters of the Scheme, then these costs will be reimbursed.

The General Scheme of the Bill completed pre-legislative scrutiny in January. Drafting of the Bill has been progressed and I am hoping to be in a position to publish the Bill before the Summer recess.

Question No. 210 answered with Question No. 166.