1080. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether homeowners under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme are provided with the engineer’s final report relating to their dwelling before being asked to indicate whether they wish to avail of a technical review following an assessment by the Housing Agency under I.S. 465; whether electing to avail of a technical review d…
1081. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason correspondence issued by the Housing Agency to homeowners under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, following completion of an assessment under I.S. 465:2018, asks homeowners to indicate whether they wish to avail of a technical review or allow the Remediation Option Grant approval to issue to the relevant local…
1082. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Housing Agency uses a standard template for correspondence under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, specifically the wording asking homeowners to ‘please reply… with your instructions of how you wish to proceed’ after a technical assessment; if a template exists, to provide a copy; if not, the basis on which indivi…
1099. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the ongoing review of I.S. 465, the Irish standard used for the assessment and remediation of dwellings affected by defective concrete; the current status of this review; whether any interim findings or updates will be made publicly available; the estimated timeframe for the completion and publication of the…
1137. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20595/26]
2185. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of counselling and psychotherapy sessions available through a programme (details supplied) in 2026 for individuals impacted by defective concrete; the number of appointments allocated nationally and per county; the number of individuals who can avail of the service in each participating county; whether the service is available online or via in person …
2186. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health whether there are any bespoke services available through Children's Health Ireland (CHI) specifically for children suffering from respiratory conditions linked to defective concrete homes, specifically if there are dedicated respiratory clinics, asthma services, or multidisciplinary supports for children living in these defective homes; if she will confirm the a…
2. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health whether she will commission a study on the health impacts of prolonged exposure to mould and damp in homes impacted by defective concrete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18050/26]
590. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health whether a chairperson has been assigned to the cannabis access review panel; if so, whether the Minister could advise the person chosen; if not, when will this position be filled so that work on the review can be commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18163/26]
480. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health the total number of beds which are currently closed in all community hospitals in Donegal, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15672/26]
481. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of additional staff, including nurses, care assistants and other staff are needed in each community hospital, in order to safely staff all currently closed beds in these community hospitals in Donegal, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15673/26]
649. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has obtained legal advice to support the position that complaints concerning the administration, delay, procedures, resourcing or transparency of the Defective Concrete Blocks Appeals Panel fall outside the remit of the Office of the Ombudsman by virtue of the panel being described as independent; if so, the legal basis …
650. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether it is the position of his Department that homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks have no external or independent complaints or oversight mechanism available to them in respect of delay, maladministration or procedural unfairness in the appeals process; if so, the way in which this position is compatible with princ…
651. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the role of his Department in determining or influencing the operation of the Defective Concrete Blocks Appeals Panel, including its terms of reference, appointment process, funding, staffing levels, procedures and timelines; whether, in view of this role, he accepts that the administration and operation of the panel must remain su…
723. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm the origin of guidance issued by the Housing Agency stating that homeowners cannot avail of a full technical review following the revision of the I.S. 465 following an appeal and adjudication by the Appeals Panel; whether this guidance was issued at the direction of, or with the approval of, his Department; and whether h…
724. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason guidance regarding access to technical reviews was issued only to homeowners whose remediation options were downgraded after 6 November 2024; whether different rules apply to homeowners depending on the date of downgrade; and how this approach is consistent with principles of fairness and equal treatment under the defect…
233. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school bus issue can be examined (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8865/26]
289. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if a pension matter can be examined (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8866/26]
Charles Ward
Oral
29 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
86. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the means test for SUSI grants for households impacted by the defective concrete crisis, in order that essential outgoings such as mortgages and rent are taken into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7279/26]
612. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the role local authorities will have in conducting or contributing to technical reviews of applications under the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme; to specify the nature of that role; the expertise to be applied; whether local authorities will be acting independently or on behalf of the Housing Agency; and if he will make a stateme…
613. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which independence will be ensured in the technical review process for homeowners dissatisfied with determinations under the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme, particularly where a review may be carried out by the same body, or an associated body, involved in the original determination; and if he will make a statement on …
614. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the difference in function, authority and outcome between the statutory independent appeals process, and the proposed technical review process; to confirm whether a technical review constitutes a new determination, a re-assessment, or an advisory exercise only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5573/26]
615. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether details of the technical review process, including who conducts it, governance arrangements, and decision-making criteria, will be published in advance of homeowners being invited to participate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5574/26]
616. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the anticipated completion date for the review of IS,465; the expected timeline for the commencement of the technical review application process following its completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5575/26]
633. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify, in respect of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, whether the 78-week timeframe applicable to the determination of appeals continues to run where an appeal is paused or cannot be progressed pending the completion of a technical review arising from the ongoing revision of I.S. 465; if he will further clarify whet…