Questions

76. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the review being undertaken under section 51 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 in respect of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme will include an assessment of the adequacy of the current square metre rates and associated grant costings for remediation, demolition and rebuild works; whether the review …

1029. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department is developing a relocation scheme for the nine households at Elm Park, Buncrana, County Donegal, whose homes are affected by defective concrete and flood risk, following previous ministerial statements regarding agreement in principle to relocation; if so, when its terms are expected to be finalised; and if …

1059. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has issued guidance to designated local authorities administering the defective concrete blocks grant scheme regarding cases where competent building professionals fail or refuse to provide the final invoices, certificates or other documentation required to facilitate the release of grant payments; and wheth…

1104. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has directed Limerick City and County Council to require applicants under the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme to provide proof of funding available to complete their build where the total project cost, including professional fees, exceeds the grant amount offered; and the statutory, regulator…

1115. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is Departmental policy that grant payments under the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme may be withheld until a local authority is satisfied that an applicant has sufficient funding to complete the entire project; and the legislative or regulatory provision supporting such a condition. [77153/26]

1117. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has assessed the extent to which the grant available under the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme covers the actual cost of completing approved qualifying remediation works, including associated professional fees; the number of cases which the cost of approved qualifying works exceeds the grant amoun…

1128. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps being taken to ensure a consistent national approach to the administration of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme across all local authorities; whether applicants in Donegal County Council can access the rental accommodation grant prior to the submission of a commencement notice; whether Limerick City and County C…

309. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which a homeowner in an affected apartment or duplex can access the apartment and duplex defects remediation scheme where applications must be made by a management company that does not own the property; whether an individual homeowner can apply directly where the management company is unwilling or unable to apply; and t…

498. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the circumstances in which sustainability funding may be provided to an early learning and childcare service required to relocate as a consequence of defective concrete; the categories of expenditure which may be supported under such funding; and whether the funding can contribute towards temporary relocation, long-term relocation or re…

97. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a local authority or an approved housing body's I.S. 465 building professional recommends option 1 remediation (details supplied), his power to seek documentary evidence and request review by the Housing Agency can result in the original remediation recommendation being altered or overturned; the precise statutory basis for this …

476. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the statutory review of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 currently being undertaken under Section 51 of the Act; the names, qualifications, and specific terms of appointment of external experts or consultants who have been engaged to assist his Department with this …

140. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a formal protocol exists between her Department, Pobal and County Childcare Committees regarding the management of childcare services affected by defective concrete; and if so, to provide details of that protocol. [67388/26]

141. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether childcare facilities affected by defective concrete are being prioritised under the State-led childcare infrastructure programme; and if not, if consideration will be given to establishing such a priority mechanism. [67389/26]

142. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality measures in place to ensure that childcare places are not lost where a childcare facility affected by defective concrete becomes unsafe or unsuitable for occupation. [67392/26]

143. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the funding streams currently available to childcare providers affected by defective concrete, including sustainability funding and capital supports; and the number of providers that have accessed such funding to date. [67395/26]

367. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether properties owned or operated by an approved housing body (AHB), including supported accommodation, rehabilitation centres, and other residential facilities provided by an AHB for housing or care-related purposes, are eligible for assistance under The Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill 2024; whether such propertie…

399. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the independent panel to review the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, following the publication of IS 465, has been established; if so, the date on which the panel was established; the membership of the panel; its terms of reference; the expected timeframe for completion of its review; if not, the reason the panel has not …

430. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Government will consider restoring grants for the recommended demolition and rebuild (Option 1) for homeowners who commenced this option at their own expense and were previously downgraded to a lesser option by the Housing Agency; as the publication of the revised IS 465:2026 now confirms that Option 1 was the only viable so…

4. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he will consider introducing supports for farm buildings or agricultural buildings impacted by defective concrete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52560/26]

470. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the proposed social housing defective concrete blocks remediation scheme; if approved housing body-owned or operated properties, including supported accommodation and rehabilitation centres will be eligible for inclusion under this scheme; the anticipated timeline for the establishment and commencement of the scheme; …

332. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that a number of homeowners whose applications were upgraded to full demolition and rebuild following successful defective concrete block scheme appeals have been advised by the Housing Agency that their grant amounts cannot be recalculated until I.S. 465 becomes legislation, despite other homeowners in the same circ…

411. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce a compassionate hardship clause or legislative amendment to the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme to accommodate families who have inherited a defective property from a relative who was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and subsequently passed away before they were medically or physically able to…

449. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of delays within Tailte Éireann in processing mapping, registration and related property matters that are affecting homeowners’ ability to progress applications under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; the number of applications that have been delayed as a result; the average waiting time being experienced b…

450. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm whether the issue of homeowners under the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme who have reached the maximum grant cap and are unable to reclaim engineering and professional fees incurred, in some cases up to €6,000 and paid prior to scheme approval, will be considered as part of the upcoming review of …

1142. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the preparatory work completed to date to facilitate the extension of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme to the newly included counties; the work that remains outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43876/26]