Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
651. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of dedicated staff currently employed within the Housing Agency to carry out assessments of letters of recommendation submitted by local authorities in relation to defective concrete blocks; if this staffing level is considered sufficient to meet the demand for timely assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6060/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 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.
The allocation of staff across the Housing Agency is a matter for that organisation in the first instance. More information on their staffing can be sought from the Housing Agency via publicreps@housingagency.ie.
