September target for Defective Concrete social housing scheme - Donegal Daily

The Irish Government has approved a draft Defective Concrete Blocks Social Homes Scheme, which is expected to be given effect in September.A spokesperson from t...

The Irish Government has approved a draft Defective Concrete Blocks Social Homes Scheme, which is expected to be given effect in September.

A spokesperson from the Department of Housing, in an update to Donegal Daily on the scheme, said the approval took place on 22nd July.

The spokesperson said: "The DCB Grant Scheme, provides grants to help those whose dwellings are affected by defective concrete blocks to remediate their homes, is underpinned by the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022.

"Section 36 of the Act allows the Government to make a scheme to apply to social homes owned by designated local authorities and approved housing bodies affected by defective concrete blocks.

They continued: "On July 22nd 2026 the Government approved a draft Defective Concrete Blocks Social Homes Scheme and authorised the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to arrange for the moving of a motion for a Resolution in each House of the Oireachtas, approving the draft Defective Concrete Blocks Social Homes Scheme.

"Once this process is completed in the Oireachtas a Government Order will be sought to give effect to the Scheme.

Donegal County Council formally submitted a plan and formally requested a scheme for social housing tenants to the government in 2021.

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Earlier this month, it was confirmed that more than €1.5 million has been spent carrying out emergency repairs to defective council homes in Donegal.

Only €283,570 has been recouped from the government so far, with the council expecting to pursue the remaining costs when the Social Housing Remediation Scheme is eventually introduced.

Director of Housing Anne Marie Conlon, speaking at the recent meeting of Donegal County Council, said officials had been in ongoing contact with the Department and had repeatedly stressed the need for a fully-funded scheme.

This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme