The programme for Government promised an examination of the issue of defective housing in the first 12 months. The programme states that the examination will have "regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing report, ‘Safe as Houses’." As the Minister knows, that report called for the introduction of a latent defects redress scheme for affected homeowners. The working group on defective buildings was announced by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, in September. It has been meeting monthly since March but it appears that its work is greatly delayed. Can the Minister confirm that the group will finish its work in time to meet the programme for Government commitment to have its report within 12 months? Can he also confirm that provision will be made in budget 2022 for a redress scheme for the affected homeowners?

My colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, was instrumental in putting that commitment in the programme for Government because she saw in her constituency, as I am sure we have all seen in our constituencies, the effects of defective building. It is seen not just in counties Donegal and Mayo but right across the country. I will contact the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and try to get a specific timeline. I do not have it to hand but I will contact the Minister and ask him to forward it to the Deputy. It has to be part of a much wider approach to improve building standards and protect those affected by defects over recent years.