Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin TD has said that the updated defective concrete block scheme will leave many homeowners behind.
Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien opened the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant Scheme on Monday, providing grants of up to €420,000 for eligible homeowners.
Deputy Ó Broin said the scheme does not provide 100% redress required by those affected.
“While the changes to the scheme will provide much needed relief for some affected homeowners, we believe that it will leave many homeowners and tenants behind,” he said.
“It does not provide 100% redress. It does not provide retrospective redress. It does not include foundations impacted by pyrrhotite, and IS 495 – the industry standard underpinning the original scheme – remains in place. This standard has been undermined by the emerging scientific evidence and has resulted in large number of applications for funding being stalled and it is likely that this will continue in the revised scheme. The damage threshold cannot be used as a barrier to access the scheme.
“It is also not clear whether the local authorities have been given adequate resources and IT systems to process the new applications in a timely manner,” he added.
The issue of defective blocks in a very significant number of social homes remains, the Deputy said, adding that Sinn Féin will be monitoring the updated scheme closely.
Deputy Ó Broin said: “We look forward to hearing from affected homeowners, the Department of Housing and Local Authorities at an Oireachtas Housing Committee meeting on the scheme scheduled to take place on Thursday, 13th July.
“Sinn Féin remains convinced that the flaws in the underlying legislation must be addressed to ensure that no homeowner or tenant is left behind. We will be publishing amending legislation over the Summer, following consultation with affected homeowners, to address these very serious concerns.”
Updated Defective Block Scheme is not 100% redress – Sinn Féin was last modified: July 5th, 2023 by