Defective Building Materials

Wednesday, 2 October 2024

Ceisteanna (137)

Marian Harkin

Ceist:

137. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to this Deputy’s previous correspondence on the inclusion of Sligo in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme and the reply received (details supplied), if he can outline the timeline for bringing a motion for resolution to each House of the Oireachtas and, subject to the passing of a resolution, bringing a second memorandum to Government requesting that the order be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39336/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I 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 Housing Agency wrote to me and recommended that an order under Section 5(9) of the Act designating Sligo County Council in respect of the whole of its administrative area be made and I accepted this recommendation.

An order for the inclusion of a local authority in the enhanced DCB Grant Scheme may only be made by an Order of the Government. I have received Government approval for the designation of Sligo County Council under the scheme. I am now in the process of arranging for the moving of a motion for a Resolution in each House of the Oireachtas and subject to the passing of such a Resolution I will then request the Government to make the Order.

I expect that the designation process to allow for the inclusion of Sligo County Council in the scheme will be finalised shortly.