I have constantly raised the issue of side-by-side rebuilding under the defective concrete scheme through amendments, a motion in the House and parliamentary questions. This is happening in people's homes right now. For many families, side-by-side building is the only workable way to rebuild while staying within their communities in Donegal. The Government has indicated that it will be available in certain, limited circumstances but those circumstances are not clear and the provision is not yet operational. Families still do not know how it will apply to them and the uncertainty is causing real difficulty in planning and rebuilding for families to actually move forward. I am dealing with families directly and speaking to them every single day and their cases are coming through my office, where people are trying to understand how they are meant to proceed. There is a significant number of people affected and they are older homeowners and disabled homeowners. Side-by-side building is a way for them to move forward. There are consequences for the delays being put in place at the moment for the rebuilds to move forward because it is time-sensitive. It would also avoid moving disabled and older people out of their communities when they can build side-by-side if they have the land next to each other and can proceed. Families remain on site, there are no rental payments and there are no storage costs. Everything is there and it is fiscally responsible. It allows them to move on.

I am dealing with a family in Carrowkeel who have a child who is severely disabled. They are currently dealing with electrical issues with their house because it is structurally unsound and is moving. That child, who will be 18 next week, is on an air mattress and when it goes down she is prone to ulcers and back sores. Her framework cannot be bolted to the house because the house is not suitable, so the family is waiting to go. They are in their house but the house they are waiting to build is out in the garden. We are waiting for approval but we need approval and we need answers.

When will this scheme commence and when will homeowners who have the space and capacity to carry out side-by-side rebuilding be able to do so under the scheme? Will it set out clearly when this will be operational?

The entire defective concrete blocks schemes have moved on apace over the past number of years and that needs to be acknowledged as well.

Jesus Christ.

The sum of €293 million has been provided this year alone for the remediation of homes affected by defects including pyrite, apartment defects and defective concrete blocks. The pace has accelerated, in particular over the past two years. There was €155 million spent in 2025, compared with just under €60 million in 2024. As the scheme ramps up, more sufficient additional funding will be provided as required. As the Deputy knows, the overall cost is estimated at about €2.2 billion.

The scheme is designed, as per the Government's commitment, and delivered in a manner that meets the real needs of homeowners in an efficient and effective manner. Currently more than 3,000 homeowners are at various stages of the scheme. The data is clear, too, that many are availing of it and that the grant rates, which were set and increased in 2024 and are based on expert advice, are at a level to ensure homeowners will get the money they need to put their homes right. That the grant scheme follows the most up-to-date science is particularly important and changes were made to the scheme late in 2024 to take account of the most recent research.

A forthcoming Bill will make amendments to the grant scheme to allow changes to be implemented by the administrators of the grant scheme. That will allow grant rates and payments under the scheme to increase by up to 10%.

In relation to the Deputy's specific question, I will engage with the Minister regarding what is the latest position on that. I think what the Deputy is suggesting is that a house would be built adjacent while the existing house is being repaired.

Yes.

Deputy, please.

In special areas or right across the board?

Deputy Ward can respond in a minute.

It is important. The scale and pace of this is growing enormously. I will talk to the Minister and ask him to engage with the Deputy to get clarity on that specific point, particularly for families that are under pressure either with disabilities or a wider range of issues.

With respect, there have been 300 homes built in the past five years. There are 3,000 people currently trying to go through the scheme who are stuck in the scheme. Families are waiting for the basics. Side-by-side building is where you go onto an acre of land that could have a house on one side that is defective and a house on the other, and then pull it down and keep the family in this house until the other house is rebuilt, and then pull the defective house it down and move them over. That is what we are waiting for. That is what people are waiting for if the capacity is there to do it. The family I am talking about in Carrowkeel have a child with a severe disability who has basically been waiting to move for three years on the scheme and cannot get side-by-side building. There is a reality going on here that this scheme is only at 2% capacity. When it starts to move and to crank up, we acknowledge the money is being spent, but only 300 homes have been built. There are 3,000 people caught in this scheme and thousands more are currently waiting. My colleagues in Donegal are all dealing with this and we know what is going on on the ground.

I thank the Deputy. The Taoiseach will respond.

I have spoken to people in Donegal and to public representatives who have said there is real momentum in this scheme-----

Which ones?

Oh my God.

-----and do not give the exact same-----

It is not your question, Deputy Mac Lochlainn. This scheme-----

Do not interrupt. Allow the Taoiseach to answer.

There are new asks all of the time in relation to the scheme. We need to get on with it and get it delivered.

We do.

We do.

I agree with you that we do but we need to-----

The legislation has changed, expert advice has changed and the science has changed. The Government's commitment is absolutely 100% in terms of delivering this scheme, and 3,000 people are not trapped in the scheme.

They are trapped.

I am one of them.

They are engaged in and involved with the scheme at different stages.

Works of fiction.