Defective concrete block mortgageability
Deputy Doherty asked whether homes remediated under the defective concrete block scheme will remain fully mortgageable, saleable, and eligible for top-up borrowing. The Minister of State said engineers had not formally raised the issue with the Department and asked that any specific concerns be sent in.
It is disappointing the Minister is leaving because I wanted to talk to him about the defective concrete block redress scheme in Donegal and elsewhere. Despite having been badly let down, people are trying to engage and rebuild their homes. The question, however, is about the mortgageability of these homes following remediation. Will people be able to sell the properties or get top-up mortgages in future? These are key issues. In a reply to a parliamentary question I asked, the Minister indicated the properties would be fully remortgageable once a home had been certified as remediated. However, I have been informed that a number of engineers cannot guarantee certification of properties for a number of options under the scheme. I would like to ask the Minister who has just walked out whether he has sought clarification from the engineering sector on this issue. Why is there no implementation group involving key stakeholders, namely, the homeowners, the banking industry, the insurance sector and the engineers, to resolve outstanding issues? Will the Minister set up such a group? The other issue is that the banks have put forward a proposal of a zero-interest loan for homeowners to help them get set up.
I understand it is with the Department. What is the update in that regard?
Comment on this
I note both points the Deputy has raised. Have the engineers been in contact with the Department on that issue? We do not appear to have received anything specifically on the issue to date. If there is a particular issue, the Deputy might bring it to our attention. More particularly, the engineers might make contact with us. I know the issue came up at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It came up a number of months ago and was raised by the engineers. It is not a matter that has been formally raised with the Department so the Deputy might bring up that.
On the loans that are available, I understand there has been engagement between the Banking Federation of Ireland and the Department. I will follow up that point with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien.