The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 which underpins the enhanced Defective Concrete Block Scheme was commenced in June 2023.
The Scheme is currently open to applications in five counties, namely Clare, Donegal, Limerick, Mayo and Sligo.
When a local authority that is not currently designated under the Scheme determines that homes within their area may have been damaged by defective concrete blocks, they can seek to have the Scheme extended to include any such county or part of that county.
Section 5 of the Act contains details on this process. The statutory designation process can commence upon a request by a local authority or by myself, as Minister, to the Housing Agency. The Agency thereafter carries out technical testing of dwellings.
After the completion of any testing, the Housing Agency makes a recommendation to the Minister as to whether an order to designate the whole or part of a local authority's area should or should not be made by the Government.
I understand that Meath County Council, in accordance with Section 5(7) of the Act submitted a request to the Housing Agency on 8 July, 2024 for inclusion in the scheme. The Housing Agency appointed a Chartered Engineer from their existing framework panel to assist in their investigations and consultations. The investigations (including concrete block sampling and testing) and consultations required under the Act started on a small number of dwellings in January 2025.
The assessment of damage and sampling of concrete blocks at these dwellings has now been completed by the Housing Agency and test results were received at the end of September 2025.
I received the report from the Housing Agency on 27 November 2025 and I am currently considering the recommendations made.
I understand that Wexford County Council, in accordance with Section 5(7) of the Act submitted a request to the Housing Agency on 18 September 2023 for inclusion in the scheme. The Housing Agency appointed a Chartered Engineer from their existing framework panel to assist in their investigations and consultations. The investigations (including concrete block sampling and testing) and consultations required under the Act started in December 2023.
Subsequently, the Housing Agency received the test results from the properties sampled in Wexford and I have received the final report from the Housing Agency. On the basis of the recommendations made by the Agency I intend to shortly bring the matter to Government seeking approval for the making of an Order designating the relevant parts of Wexford County Council as being part of the DCB Scheme.
I understand that Louth County Council, in accordance with Section 5(7) of the Act, were in contact with the Housing Agency on 25 April, 2024 stating they would be writing to the Housing Agency regarding three properties potentially affected by defective concrete blocks. I further understand that there has been some engagement on this matter between Louth County Council and the Housing Agency in February 2025, with additional engagement between senior staff from the council, and the Agency taking place in December 2025. The Housing Agency has also confirmed to my Department that they have received correspondences from potentially affected residents in County Louth but as of yet, no formal request for inclusion in the Scheme has been received by the Agency from the Council.
