Questions

1156. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has prepared estimates of the impact of I.S. 465:2026 on future remediation costs under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43983/26]

1157. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether remediation recommendations, technical reviews and appeals that remain undetermined at the date of publication of I.S. 465:2026 will be assessed under the provisions of I.S. 465:2026 or under the version of the standard that applied when the application was originally submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matte…

1163. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has assessed the impact of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme on the future saleability and mortgage ability of remediated dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44018/26]

171. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commit to funding targeted support hubs for children and families impacted by the defective concrete crisis, given that children and families are experiencing significant trauma, psychological distress and instability as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29466/26]

641. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if landlords with tenancies in place prior to 1 March 2026 will continue to retain the right to terminate a tenancy under section 34 of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2025 where vacant possession is required to carry out remediation works to dwellings affected by defective concrete blocks; and if he will make a statement on…

642. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures that are in place to ensure that landlords are not placed in a position whereby tenants remain in dwellings deemed unsafe due to defective concrete blocks or where substantial remediation works pose a health and safety risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37711/26]

643. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the protections and supports available to tenants residing in dwellings affected by defective concrete blocks where remediation works require temporary or permanent vacation of the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37712/26]

644. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if specific guidance has issued, or is planned to issue, to landlords, tenants and the Residential Tenancies Board regarding the interaction between tenancy protections introduced from 1 March 2026 and the operation of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37713/26]

716. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has considered a CALF application for 60 houses in Carndonagh (details supplied); if so, his decision in relation to this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34935/26]

494. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the financial shortfall being experienced by applicants who do not have access to bridging finance under the defective concrete blocks scheme; if he is aware of the impact of the requirement to retain 10% of the approved grant, combined with the additional retrospective top-up (up to the €462,000 maximum) only bei…

699. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of appeals lodged to date relating specifically to downgraded remediation options under the defective concrete blocks scheme; the number of such appeals in each county, , including a separate identification of Donegal; the number of such appeals submitted in each month since the establishment of the appeals panels,…

700. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of appeals relating to downgraded remediation options that have been withdrawn to date; the number of such withdrawals in each month; the reason recorded in each case for withdrawal; whether the reason for withdrawal is recorded as a mandatory field in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3024…

701. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants who, having initiated an appeal in respect of a downgraded remediation option, subsequently opted to pursue a technical review instead; whether such cases are included in, excluded from, or separately classified within appeal statistics; the number of such cases currently recorded; the stage at which such c…

702. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of appeals relating to downgraded remediation options determined to date by the appeals panels; the outcome in each case, including the number overturned resulting in an upgrade in remediation option; the number upheld; the number remitted for further inspection or reassessment; the average and median time taken to…

703. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of appeals relating to downgraded remediation options currently awaiting determination by the appeals panels; the length of time each such appeal has been awaiting decision, categorised, by time bands; if he will confirm that this figure excludes withdrawn appeals and cases where applicants opted for a technical review; …

704. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the name of each engineer and engineering firm currently operating under the Housing Agency framework panels in relation to the defective concrete blocks scheme; the date of appointment of each; the criteria applied for inclusion on the panels; whether any firms or individuals have been removed or suspended and the reason for same;…

705. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Questions on appeals relating to downgraded remediation options under the defective concrete blocks scheme, whether he or his Department holds the data requested; if not, whether the appeals panels or any associated bodies hold such data; if the data is held by an independent body, whether he will engage wi…

711. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rationale for maintaining separate cost calculation methodologies for the defective concrete blocks grant scheme and SEAI energy upgrade grants; whether this separation explicitly excludes energy efficiency upgrades from the DCB scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30310/26]

712. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the unit rates used in the defective concrete blocks scheme are aligned with 2007 Building Regulations or another baseline; the reason current building regulations standards are not applied in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30311/26]

713. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether there are plans to align the defective concrete blocks scheme with current energy efficiency standards in future revisions; and if discussions have taken place with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30316/26]

714. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given that the defective concrete blocks grant scheme applies unit rates aligned to 2007 Building Regulations, and further given that certain elements of construction such as double glazing to 2007 specifications are no longer commercially available, whether the use of currently available alternatives such as triple glazing is clas…

730. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the definition of “betterment” under the defective concrete blocks scheme; whether upgrades such as triple glazing and heat pumps are formally excluded from grant eligibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30665/26]

581. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the proposed relocation plan relating to Elm Park, Buncrana, County Donegal; the scope and objectives of this plan; if a final decision has been made in respect of the relocation; to provide a timeline for implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28606/26]

1620. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify the current and projected funding arrangements for the establishment of the Building Standards Regulatory Authority; the reason for the absence of dedicated budget line items since 2024 to support its development and implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27128/26]

1632. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to explain the legal basis for a practice (details supplied); if he will proceed with a recommended remediation option, given that the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 provides that applicants must be notified of the determination and the reasons for it prior to exercising their rig…