Defective concrete blocks scheme
Charles Ward argued the defective concrete blocks scheme was unfairly excluding apartments and multi-unit developments even though they use the same materials as houses. The Taoiseach said the scheme was unprecedented in scale and noted further legislation on defective apartments was coming.
When the original defective concrete blocks, DCB, scheme was in operation, apartments in multi-unit developments were eligible. Then, in 2022, eligibility was narrowed to dwelling houses, single ownerships excluding buildings with shared structural or common elements, apartments, duplexes and multi-unit blocks. These dwellings contain the same defective materials as a detached or semi-detached house. The exclusion demonstrates a serious failure in how the scheme is being managed.
The Government's amendment to my motion last week described the DCB scheme as a residential home scheme, as it said that non-residential properties could be dealt with under other funding schemes. Apartments and residential homes being excluded is irrational, deplorable and undermines the equality in law and property rights. The Government's amendment completely ignored my motion and the need to provide a remedy for apartments. Can the Taoiseach confirm alternative pathways established for affected apartment homeowners and whether they are currently operational, since the defective buildings have to wait? We have to wait. Those owners do not have the same rights as other homeowners.
Comment on this
From an overall perspective, the allocation and commitment in terms of the defective blocks scheme is unprecedented in scale and cost to the State in respect of that. My understanding is there is further legislation on the way in respect of defective apartments, so I will talk to the Minister again in respect of the issue that the Deputy has raised.