Amount of money spent on Defective Blocks Redress Scheme closes in on €200m mark

The amount of money spent on the State’s Defective Blocks Redress Scheme in Donegal is fast approaching the €200 million mark, with the number of homes being rebuilt increasing all the time.

Since the opening of the first scheme in 2020, the Council has processed payment claims and issued payments to homeowners to the value of €189m, including almost €116m this year alone.

Payments to the value of €74.2m have been made from January to September 2025, with additional payments of €10.5m in October 2025, €15.7m in November 2025 and €15.4m in December 2025.

A total of 784 homes have commenced or completed works so far, for an average payment of around €241,000 each.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Paul Canning has paid tribute to staff in the Defective Concrete Blocks team at Donegal County Council as they approach the end of 2025.

Donegal County Council, as a Designated Local Authority, is tasked with the administration of the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The Enhanced Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme offers financial assistance to support affected homeowners in designated local authority areas to remediate their dwellings, where their dwellings have been damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks in their construction.

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The number of homeowners currently undertaking remedial works under the Enhanced Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme has significantly increased since Q3 2025.

Cllr Canning explained: “The majority of valid Remedial Works Claims, and Ancillary Claims, submitted up to the beginning of December 2025 have been reviewed and approved, and it is intended that payments will be issued to applicants prior to Christmas, subject to all parties remaining tax compliant.”

“This has only been possible due to the ongoing commitment of staff in the Defective Concrete Blocks, Finance and Information Systems teams of Donegal County Council. I wish to acknowledge the continued significant contribution of these staff in the delivery of an intensive work programme over the past year.”

He added: “The Elected Members fully recognise the importance of timely processing of valid Payment Claims under the Defective Concrete Blocks Enhanced Grant Scheme, to ensure cash flow for all parties involved and commend the staff for their efforts.”