Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
50. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that the suggested cut-off point of March 2024 is not included in the amendments to the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, that will extend the increase in the cap and grant amounts per square-metre to those homeowners who are availing of this scheme. [35223/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra72. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his plans to bring forward amendments to the defective concrete blocks grant scheme. [35823/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra469. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a homeowner (details supplied) who has been approved for a defective concrete blocks grant will retrospectively benefit from the 10% grant increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35700/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 72 and 469 together.
The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the current grant scheme and the related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023.
Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) is a complex issue which the Government is addressing by allocating a significant amount of money to affected homeowners to enable them to rebuild their homes and get on with their lives. The overall cost of the scheme is expected to be in excess of €2.2 billion. The Government is making sure that the Scheme is designed and delivered in a manner that meets the needs of homeowners in an efficient and effective manner. Currently, almost 2,750 are at various stages of the scheme.
In Q4 of last year the then Government provided, via Regulations, for an 10% increase in the DCB Scheme cap (to €462,000) and to increases in the scheme grant rates of between 7.4% and 8.7%. These increases recognise the impact of construction inflation on homeowners in the scheme and were made following the receipt and consideration of updated cost reports from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and advice from the Expert Group established to consider the matter.
My Department sought legal advice that confirmed that extending these increases to a wider group of relevant owners, i.e. those who had already received a determination but were experiencing increased constructions costs during their ongoing remediation works, required amending the Act.
I can confirm I received Government approval (on 4 June, 2025) for the priority drafting of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Bill which includes details of the wider group of relevant owners that can avail of increases in the grant scheme cap and rates approved in October and November 2024. The Bill will also include other technical amendments to ensure the continued smooth operation of the grant scheme for homeowners.
The date chosen is consistent with the date when my Department received the updated costs report from the SCSI. The March 2024 date is also 12 months after the costings that underpin the original rates were set and thus I believe will compensate homeowners for the construction inflation they experienced during the period.
This legislation will be prioritised and progressed as expeditiously as possible. However, it should be noted that amending the Act is ultimately a matter for the Oireachtas.
