Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 June 2024
190. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses the Housing Authority has authorised for demolition under the defective blocks scheme; the number of houses the Housing Authority has authorised for outer-leaf replacement; the number of houses the Housing Authority has authorised for both outer- and inner-leaf replacement (not demolition); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26017/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 ('the 2022 Act') on 22 June 2023, which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
The detailed operation of the Scheme is a matter for the designated local authorities and the Housing Agency in the first instance. Their respective roles are set out clearly in the 2022 Act.
The Housing Agency acts as agent on behalf of the local authorities under the Enhanced Grant Scheme. Once a home has met the damage threshold for entry to the scheme, the Housing Agency engage its Framework Chartered Engineers to undertake the assessment, survey, sampling, testing and categorisation of the dwelling thereafter 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.
There are five remedial options available, and the table below sets out the position on the three remediation options referenced, under the DCB and the enhanced DCB Schemes as at 31 May, 2024.
|
Option Number |
Remediation Option Description |
Total Number |
|
Approved Remediation 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. |
258 |
|
Approved Remediation Option 4 |
Demolish and rebuild external walls (outer leaf only) down to top of rising wall on a phased basis and re-render. |
13 |
|
Approved Remediation Option 2 |
Demolish and rebuild external walls (both outer and inner leafs) down to foundation on a phased basis and re-render. |
52 |
