Almost €300m paid out under Defective Concrete Redress Scheme so far
1,100 homes have either been remediated or are undergoing works, but a shortage of tradesmen is becoming a growing concern
Almost €300 million has now been paid to homeowners under the Defective Concrete Blocks Redress Scheme, with 1,096 homes having either commenced remediation or been fully rebuilt.
Fianna Fáil councillor Fionan Bradley has welcomed the progress being made under the scheme, but warns that a growing shortage of skilled tradespeople is threatening to become a significant obstacle for impacted homeowners waiting to have their properties repaired or rebuilt.
The latest figures from the DCB Grant Office, covering the period up to September 30, 2026, show that a total of €299.3 million has been paid out under the previous and enhanced schemes.
Of that amount, €274.9 million has gone towards remediation works, with a further €8.1 million paid in ancillary grants, €8 million for competent building professional and engineer report fees, and €8.2 million for professional fees associated with remedial works plans, health and safety, and professional oversight.
The figures show that 1,096 commencements have been notified to the Grant Office by applicants, while 624 dwellings are currently undergoing remediation works.
A total of 472 homes have been fully remediated, with 125 letters of assurance also issued.
Cllr Bradley said the figures reflected significant progress under the enhanced scheme over the past 18 months to two years.
However, he warned that the availability of contractors and skilled workers was now a major concern for homeowners seeking to get work completed.
“One of the biggest issues affecting homeowners currently is the shortage of tradesmen,” he said.
“Homeowners are waiting significant lengths of time for contractors, bricklayers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters and decorators to come and carry out works on their homes.”
Cllr Bradley said the pressure on the construction sector could intensify following the recent announcement of a scheme for social housing and the opening of the Community Sports Facilities Fund to applications for clubhouses affected by defective concrete.
He believes the additional demand for skilled workers across these programmes could further lengthen waiting times for homeowners already facing considerable disruption.
The Buncrana Councillor said the current situation also presented an opportunity for young people considering a career in construction, with sustained demand for skilled workers likely to continue for years to come.
“Now has never been a better time for a young person to undergo an apprenticeship or training in a trade because there is definitely going to be a steady supply of work in this area for the next few decades,” he said.
While welcoming the latest progress figures, Cllr Bradley said he would continue to engage with Donegal County Council, departmental officials and his Oireachtas colleagues to ensure the scheme continued to be delivered efficiently and without unnecessary delays.
“I will continue to engage with council and department officials and my Oireachtas colleagues to ensure the scheme continues to be rolled out efficiently and expeditiously,” he added.
Meanwhile, the €300 million spent to date is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg, with thousands of homes across Donegal and other affected areas still requiring significant repairs, demolition and rebuilding due to defective concrete.