Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 September 2025
297. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will ask a professional body (details supplied) to provide an updated report on the real building costs for families affected by defective concrete blocks, and to inform the review that he is conducting into the defective concrete blocks grant scheme. [51091/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department keeps costs relating to the DCB Scheme under continuous review.
Following updated cost reports from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and advice from the Expert Group established to consider the matter, a further increase from the original grant rates set down in the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act), was provided for on 23 October 2024. The Scheme Cap has risen by 10% to €462,000. An increase in the scheme grant rates of between 7.4% and 8.7% that are set out in the 2023 Regulations was also approved on 7 November 2024.
Government approval was granted for the priority drafting of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Bill which will contain 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 along with a number of technical amendments. This legislation is being progressed as expeditiously as possible and the Bill is included in the Autumn 2025 Government Legislation Programme for Priority Publication.
