It is almost three years since the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, announced the setting up of a group to examine the issue of Celtic tiger-era building defects, and it is almost a year since he received the final report of the working group recommending the establishment of a redress scheme. Seven months ago, the Government committed in this House to the introduction of such a scheme and, more urgently, the provision of emergency funding for homeowners with building defects to carry out vital fire safety works. Yesterday, as I am sure the Minister will know, the Not Our Fault 100% Redress campaign, supported by the Construction Defects Alliance, held a 24-hour protest outside the Dáil. I spoke to them, and homeowners affected by defects are expressing real frustration at the delay on this issue. When will those homeowners be able to apply for the emergency funding that is required to make their homes safe from the threat of fire? More importantly, when will they have access to apply for inclusion in a full redress scheme?

As I was coming in yesterday evening, I met the group outside and had a chat with them. I subsequently met the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and discussed the issue with him. He will revert to the group concerned. As Deputy Ó Broin will know, this is a major new scheme with a potential cost of between €1.5 billion and €2.5 billion. It will be one of the most comprehensive remediation schemes in the world, in keeping with the Government's commitment in respect of defective concrete blocks and pyrite. The scheme will be designed in such a way that owner management companies will be funded to carry out the necessary remediation works with specific limitations or exemptions on certain commercial owners. I expect that the Minister will come back shortly on the specific issue that has been raised of emergency funding.