1142. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the preparatory work completed to date to facilitate the extension of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme to the newly included counties; the work that remains outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43876/26]

1143. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the local authorities in the counties being added to the defective concrete blocks grant scheme have been advised of an implementation timetable; whether staffing, training and administrative arrangements have been finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43877/26]

1144. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has prepared a project plan for the extension of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme to the other newly included counties; if so, the key milestones and target dates contained within that plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43878/26]

1145. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated number of homeowners in County Meath and each other county approved for inclusion in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme who are awaiting the opening of the scheme; the measures being taken to minimise further delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43879/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1142, 1143, 1144 and 1145 together.

The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 which underpins the enhanced Defective Concrete Block (DCB) Scheme was commenced in June 2023.

The Scheme is currently open to applications in seven counties, namely Clare, Donegal, Limerick, Mayo, Sligo and parts of the administrative areas of Wexford County Council and of Fingal County Council, with further local authority areas to be designated under the scheme shortly, subject to Government approval.

I recently received Government approval for the designation of parts of the administrative areas of Wexford County Council and of Fingal County Council under the scheme. I subsequently arranged for the moving of a motion for a Resolution in each House of the Oireachtas. These Resolutions passed through each House of the Oireachtas and I then requested the Government to make the Order.

Accordingly, the designation process to allow for the inclusion of parts of the administrative areas of Wexford County Council and of Fingal County Council has now been finalised. the number of properties affected in both areas is relatively low in number, circa 41 in total.

My Department continues to engage on a regular basis with local authority teams who operate and administer the scheme including the new counties recently designated.

Further to this end, updated Ministerial Guidelines to facilitate, promote and support a consistent approach to the operation and administration of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme by designated local authorities are currently being drafted by my Department. Ensuring that the guidance is comprehensive and that the enhanced scheme will work for everyone, is a main priority.

My Department is also currently drafting an updated “Your Questions Answered” document to ensure homeowners have the most up to date information available to them.

The detailed operation of the Scheme is a matter for the designated local authorities and the Housing Agency in the first instance. Their respective roles are set out clearly in the 2022 Act.

Local authorities have responsibility for the administration of the DCB scheme. This includes the initial validation of applications, notifying homeowners of the Housing Agency's determinations on damage threshold, the appropriate remediation option and grant amount, determination of the grant payable for alternative accommodation and storage costs and immediate repair works and the subsequent payment of grants to successful applicants.

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he / she is responsible. As such, information on resources and staffing would be available directly from the respective local authority.

DCB is a complex issue which the Government is addressing by allocating a significant amount of money to affected homeowners to enable them to rebuild their homes and get on with their lives. The overall cost of the scheme is expected to be in excess of €2.2 billion (excluding inflation). The Government is making sure that the Scheme is designed and delivered in a manner that meets the needs of homeowners in an efficient and effective manner.