The Minister for Housing has been warned that rocketing construction costs will make the enhanced Defective Concrete Block scheme inaccessible to many Donegal homeowners.
The Mica Action Group estimates that at least 40% of homeowners’ real construction costs will breach the cap in the new scheme.
“With the overall cap in place the scheme is not and never can be 100% Redress,” campaigners told Department of Housing representatives yesterday.
Without additional funding, the group warned that people will be forced to take on additional debt or to use precious savings such as children’s college funds.
The Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien advised homeowner representatives that Government are looking to have the regulations signed off by the end of May 2023 with a view to implementing the scheme by the beginning of June 2023.
Thirteen amendments have been proposed by the Department from 352 submissions from the stakeholders, including homeowner action groups and local councils in Donegal, Mayo, Clare and Limerick.
The government is expected to provide responses to each of the submissions in a future report. (see the amendments below)
Other topics of the 45-minute meeting covered SEAI energy efficiency grants, a lack of support for homeowners during remediation and insurance difficulties.
