Government targets September launch for Defective Blocks social housing scheme
Donegal tenants closer to relief as Government advances defective blocks scheme
The Government has taken a significant step towards addressing the defective concrete blocks crisis in social housing after approving a draft remediation scheme for affected council-owned homes.
Cabinet gave its approval to the draft scheme last week, with Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne now set to bring motions before both the Dáil and Seanad when the Oireachtas returns in September. Once approved by both Houses, a Government Order will be made to bring the scheme into effect.
In a statement, the Department of Housing said the existing Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme for private homeowners is underpinned by the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, which also allows the Government to introduce a similar scheme for affected social homes.
Department spokesperson said the legislative process is expected to be completed in September.
“Once this process is completed in the Oireachtas, a Government Order will be sought to give effect to the Scheme. This process is expected to take place in September 2026.”
The announcement marks a significant development for hundreds of social housing tenants living in homes affected by defective concrete blocks. Last year it was estimated that 2,000 council-owned homes in Donegal have been impacted. Some are in such a bad state of deterioration that the council has begun a programme of temporary repairs pending the implementation of a proper scheme.
Inishowen Councillor Joy Beard of the 100% Redress Party welcomed confirmation that the Government intends to introduce the scheme in September, describing it as a major milestone following years of campaigning.
"We have been pushing for years to get a Social Housing Scheme in place, and after all this time it finally appears that we are making progress."
"This cannot come soon enough for the tenants who have been living in homes affected by defective concrete. Some of these families have endured unacceptable living conditions for far too long."
Cllr Beard said she had again raised the urgency of the issue with Government officials this week.
"Even yesterday I spoke with a Government official to stress just how urgent this is. We need to ensure the scheme will work in the way it should. Families have waited long enough and deserve certainty."
While welcoming indications that the social housing scheme will broadly mirror the existing private homeowners' grant scheme, Cllr Beard warned that important issues remain unresolved.
"If the scheme mirrors the private scheme, then there are still significant issues that need to be resolved. We know there are ongoing concerns around foundation replacement and ensuring that the grant rates properly reflect the true cost of remediation. These are matters that continue to affect private homeowners, and they cannot simply be carried across without being addressed."
The South Inishowen Councillor also said one of the biggest concerns is how tenants will be accommodated while their homes are demolished and rebuilt.
"Perhaps the greatest concern is where tenants will live during the remediation process. To date, the Department of Housing has rejected repeated calls to provide dedicated temporary accommodation for affected families. That position is simply not sustainable if large numbers of homes are to be demolished and rebuilt."
Cllr Beard noted that Donegal County Council has already spent significant sums carrying out emergency works to keep tenants safe.
"These emergency works were never intended to be a permanent solution. They were necessary to make homes as safe as possible while we waited for a scheme, but everyone recognises they are only temporary measures put in place because there was no Social Housing Remediation Scheme. Had it been announced years ago, we may never have had to spend these vast amounts of money. I am led to believe these costs will be recouped in full when the Social Housing Remediation Scheme gets underway."
The Buncrana councillor concluded by saying that while the Government's announcement represents welcome progress, the effectiveness of the scheme will ultimately depend on its final detail.
"This is welcome progress, but we now need to see the full details of the scheme. Tenants in social housing, just like everyone else, deserve to be in safe homes, and we need to make sure the scheme works. I will continue to engage with the Department and push for any shortcomings to be addressed when we see what the scheme entails."
Meanwhile, Donegal County Council has begun progressing temporary repair works on 26 social homes affected by defective concrete blocks in Buncrana. Contractors have been invited to carry out works at properties in the Dún na nIarlaí, Páirc Mór and Sliabh Sneachta estates to maintain their safety and habitability while the new remediation scheme is being finalised. Tenders for the works closed on Friday, July 31.