Defective concrete homeowner awaits over €90k to finish works - Donegal Daily

A defective concrete homeowner, who was an ’early mover’ with the scheme, is awaiting €94,000 in retention and retrospective payments in order to finish their b...

A defective concrete homeowner, who was an 'early mover' with the scheme, is awaiting €94,000 in retention and retrospective payments in order to finish their build.

100% Redress Party Councillor Joy Beard said many homeowners are struggling to complete their homes as they are yet to access money allocated to them.

Under the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme, a 10% retention is withheld from the final grant until matters such as works, paperwork and professional sign-off are complete.

Additionally, there are retrospective higher grant payments for eligible homeowners, which allows them to claim for the increase in the cap on grants.

Cllr Beard said one homeowner she has spoken to is still awaiting retention and retrospective payments, as well as engineers' fees, totalling €94,000.

Cllr Beard outlined how, even with this payment, the homeowner, who is in her 70s, will still be 'thousands of euro in debt.'

"Early movers shouldn't have been disadvantaged and the grant increase should have been automatically put on to their grant amount.

"The fact you have to go in and physically apply is unfair. People are being penalised as they moved early.

Cllr Beard added: "She is now awaiting €94,000 and while some builders are able to absorb that, many smaller builders can't.

"It's difficult for smaller builders and some homeowners are being asked for these payments upfront."

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"It's causing a great deal of concern and unnecessary stress for people at the end of their build.

"Some people have taken out a loan to cover it, which they then pay back after the final payment, but not everyone has that option.

Cllr Beard said that, 'ultimately, upfront costs need to be covered'.

In March, Donegal County Council announced a prioritisation process for retrospective payments.

They said that, with more than 77% of all applications to the enhanced scheme located within its administrative area, it is managing the majority of the volume of cases.

The council added that given the scale of applications, the processing of retrospective payments would take time, and a structured prioritisation approach was required.