74. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to the Stardust acknowledgement when the remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24298/24]

Since I received Government approval in January 2023 to draft legislation to establish supports for the remediation of fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in apartments and duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013, my Department has been advancing the steps to put the remediation scheme on a statutory footing as a matter of priority.

Given the complexity of the issues, including the significant amount of Exchequer funding that this Government has committed to assist affected homeowners, sufficient time is required to ensure that the scheme is fit for purpose, provides value for tax payer’s money and contains appropriate oversight and governance measures.  It is expected the draft legislation will be published in 2024 and that, subject to the legislative process, the statutory scheme will be in place shortly thereafter.

Pending the introduction of the statutory scheme, an Interim Remediation Scheme (Scheme) for the funding of emergency fire safety defect works in apartments and duplexes has been in place since December 2023. This Scheme, which is being administered by The Housing Agency on a nationwide basis, is open to applications from apartment Owner Management Companies (OMCs) via The Housing Agency’s website, and can be accessed on their website at the following link: www.housingagency.ie/interim-remediation-scheme-fire-safety-defects-eligible-apartments-and-duplexes-2023.

In the period since the Scheme’s launch, up to and including 30 April 2024, 141 applications for fire safety remediation work have been validated by the Housing Agency are being progressed across 27 local authority areas, representing a total of 14,018 residential units.