2025-11-25

15. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to expand access to a remediation and compensation scheme for homes built with defective blocks in Skerries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65211/25]

There was a protest outside today by homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks from Mayo and Donegal, but also from Fingal. The homeowners in Fingal met the Minister's predecessor in 2022 and applied to the Housing Agency in 2023. The Housing Agency's report has been on the Minister's desk since June or July of this year. Can he tell us when he is going to make a decision because these homeowners desperately need some certainty about whether hey are going to be included in what is a very imperfect scheme?

One thing I note is how often somebody tells there is something is on my desk when my desk is empty. It seems to be a term of art that something has arrived at the Department of housing somewhere. I can assure the Deputy that the Housing Agency received test results from the properties sampled in Fingal. I have received the final report from the Housing Agency. It literally was on my desk this week. 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 Fingal County Council as being part of the defective concrete blocks scheme so it will literally be within days.

Will the decision be made before or after Christmas?

I reiterate it will be literally within days.