1727. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to align the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme with SEAI energy efficiency programmes; if he will address the administrative and financial burdens placed on rebuilding homeowners who experienced a duplication of engineering, certification, and compliance costs between local authority requirements and mandatory SEAI One Stop Shop (OSS) frameworks during 2024-2025; if his Department will establish a unified, direct-to-homeowner grant pathway that removes private commercial intermediaries from State-funded remediation projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57279/26]

The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 as amended by the Act of 2025 underpins the Grant Scheme which provides grant funding to people whose homes have been affected by Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB).

A number of amendments contained in the 2025 Act came into operation on 25 February 2026 and more recently further provisions commenced on 27 May 2026.

Homeowners eligible for works under the DCB grant scheme may apply for energy upgrade grants administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) similar to other homeowners. Government has made a number of exemptions to the SEAI scheme rules for the DCB affected homeowners to account for their circumstances and to ensure that the remediated homes can be well insulated and heated with a heat pump.

DCB homeowners are able to opt for a number of SEAI schemes, which include grants for the fabric upgrade of buildings (e.g. insulation), as well as Solar PV and heat pump installation.

Central to the delivery and confirmation of the energy upgrades and the DCB remedial works is the Competent Building Professional (CBP). The CBP oversees and certifies the DCB remedial works and the energy upgrade works. SEAI has engaged with each Competent Building Professional through each of the grant applications received and together as a group to support the completion of the energy upgrades for these homes.

The SEAI has a webpage dedicated to information for DCB homeowners, along with FAQs. This material has been developed in conjunction with relevant stakeholders to ensure key information is available to homeowners to support them in their efforts to decarbonise and insulate their remediated home: www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/defective-concrete-blocks.

Homeowners can also contact the SEAI for further information at 01-8082100 or by email at dcb@seai.ie.