Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 March 2026
1024. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the apartment and duplex defects remediation scheme will be in place and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18811/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1030. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the legislation to underpin the apartment defect remediation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19027/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1033. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding a pathfinder project under the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19070/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1034. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can outline the scope of the pathfinder project under the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19071/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1035. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding a timeline for the completion of the pathfinder project under the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19072/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1036. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the pathfinder project (details supplied) has a confirmed budget, the way this was ratified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19073/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1037. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding any pathfinder projects planned under the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19074/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1038. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the full rollout of the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19075/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1039. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way remediation works are classified and deemed to be included in the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19076/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1040. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an estimate as to the total cost of completing the full interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19077/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1062. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the interim apartment remediation scheme; if water ingress defects are being considered for inclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19371/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1069. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding a pathfinder apartment defects remediation scheme (details supplied); the timeline, budget, and the way in which findings will be rolled out nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19467/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1076. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a residential development (details supplied) has been approved for funding and inclusion under the fire safety defects remediation scheme; the current status of any application in respect of the development; the timeline for assessment and decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19620/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1106. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding Pathfinder projects with respect to apartment remediation; if any funding been drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20242/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1107. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether fire risk caused by water ingress qualifies for a block of apartments to apply for the interim remediation scheme with respect to apartment remediation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20244/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1024, 1030 to 1040, inclusive, 1062, 1069, 1076, 1106 and 1107 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 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 has undergone pre-legislative scrutiny during the Dáil autumn term 2025 and I expect to bring the legislation forward for publication shortly.
A non-statutory Interim Remediation Scheme (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 Scheme is for the funding of emergency fire safety defect works in apartments and duplexes constructed between 1991 and 2013.
Defects that originate from inadequate maintenance, a failure of sinking funds to adequately allow for end-of-life replacement of building and safety systems, or inadequate management of later works to the building that have inadvertently resulted in defects are not included within the scope of the Scheme. The Scheme is being administered by the Housing Agency on a nationwide basis. Applications can be made via the Housing Agency’s website at www.housingagency.ie.
As of the end of February 2026, 236 applications to the Scheme have been validated, having met the required eligibility criteria. These applications represent 21,512 residential units, with circa 77% in the Dublin region.
Four applicants Owner Management Companies (OMC) were selected as part of a pathfinder exercise in May 2024. Three of the four pathfinder projects have been approved for funding, in the amount of €21.3 million and remediation works have commenced at one project location. Payments in the amount of €2.5 million have been made to three pathfinder OMCs to date. Full funding has been approved for the Scheme and payments will continue to be made for remediation works, where commenced and certified.
Last month, the Government announced significant changes to the Scheme.
These changes will simplify procurement and reduce administrative hurdles, allowing works to be completed more quickly while ensuring residents can remain safely in their homes until full building remediation is finish. The remediation process will prioritise the installation of fire detection and alarm systems ahead of full building remedial works which will follow under the forthcoming statutory scheme.
With regard to the specific apartment details supplied, the management and operation of the scheme, including application processing is a matter for the Housing Agency. It would not be appropriate for myself, as Minister, to comment on individual cases. All queries regarding applications to the Interim Remediation Scheme may be directed to Interim.remediation@housingagency.ie.
