Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2026
383. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the Apartments and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill 2024; if the general scheme has been published for pre legislative scrutiny as indicated for the Dáil autumn term; the current stage of that process; the indicative timeline for publication and passage of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2986/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra384. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the preparatory or administrative work being undertaken in parallel with the legislative process to enable the statutory apartments and duplex defects remediation scheme to open for applications as soon as practicable following enactment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2987/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra385. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the operation of the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes; if applications continue to be accepted pending enactment of the statutory scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2988/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra386. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the retrospective costs pathfinder project; the stage it has reached; when its findings are expected to inform decisions on retrospective payments under the statutory apartments and duplex defects remediation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2989/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 383, 384, 385 and 386 together.
Government approval was received on 18 September 2024 for the priority drafting of the Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill. The purpose of this legislation is to place the defects remediation scheme (Scheme) on a statutory footing, further to commitments contained in the Programme for Government and Housing for All.
The Scheme will provide supports for the remediation of relevant fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013. It is envisaged that 100% of eligible remediation costs will be funded under the Scheme.
The General Scheme of the Bill completed pre-legislative scrutiny in December 2025 and I expect the legislation to be placed before the Oireachtas this year.
The Scheme will be administered by the Housing Agency on a nationwide basis and processes are well established to accept applications as soon as practicable following enactment of the Scheme.
An Interim Remediation Scheme has been in place since December 2023, to provide an acceptable level of fire safety in buildings pending introduction of the Statutory Scheme and completion of the full remedial works.
The Interim Remediation Scheme is for the funding of emergency fire safety defect works in apartments and duplexes constructed between 1991 and 2013.
As of the end of December 2025, 230 applications to the Interim Remediation Scheme have been validated, having met the required eligibility criteria. These applications represent 20,940 residential units, with circa 77% in the Dublin region.
The Housing Agency continues to accept applications from Owners' Management Companies (OMC) of eligible multi-unit developments with eligible emergency fire safety defects under the Interim Remediation Scheme. Applications can be made via the Housing Agency’s website at www.housingagency.ie All queries regarding applications to the Interim Remediation Scheme should be directed to Interim.remediation@housingagency.ie
The Government is committed to consideration of remediation costs already incurred as part of the drafting of the Bill. Remediation costs already incurred or levied prior to the introduction of the statutory scheme will be covered, once such costs fall within the scope and defined parameters of the Scheme.
On 22 October 2024 the Government agreed the establishment of a Retrospective Costs Pathfinder Exercise from a representative sample of eight multi-unit developments, in order to identify and develop a potential appropriate process to address retrospective issues, based on fire safety remedial works completed.
The Housing Agency received a large volume of documentation from the respective Owner Management Companies (OMCs) which is being used to help identify an appropriate process to address retrospective issues more broadly. In particular, the Pathfinder Exercise will support development of a robust process around:
• Alignment with the existing Interim Remediation Scheme processes;
• Supporting Documentation and Timeframes;
• Certification and Standardisation of Evidence;
• Verification and Payment processes.
I will return to Government before any retrospective payments are made, to update on the outcome from the pathfinder, based on lessons learned. A proposal on how retrospective payments could operate in practice will form part of this update. The aim is to identify a process that provides a streamlined approach, ease of engagement by applicants and ensures good governance regarding Exchequer funding.
