Defective block scheme cap increase finally comes into effect after two year wait

Hundreds of families engaged with the defective concrete blocks scheme will finally be able to apply for and obtain increased payments that were legislated for last year.

In response to a Dáil question from Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, Minister for Housing James Browne confirmed that he has signed the order commencing the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Act 2025.

Among other measures, the amended legislation increases the cap on grants from €420,000 to €462,000 and makes allowances for higher building costs for homes completed since March 2024.

Government approval for those increased payments was given in October of that year, but it has taken until now for that decision to be given legal effect.

“Hundreds of families have not been able to avail of the increase in the cap for the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme,” Deputy Mac Lochlainn said. “For the last 15 months, I have pursued this again and again. Finally, I have received confirmation that those families already rebuilding their homes can apply for the increase.”

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However, the amended legislation limits the increased caps and rates to homes completed since March 2024.

Despite appeals during Oireachtas debates on the legislation to protect the small number of early movers who completed their rebuilds before that date - and who had been assured they would not be disadvantaged - the new law does not provide a mechanism to retrospectively increase caps and payments to them.

“I am mindful that some families who rebuilt their homes in late 2023 up until March 2024 have been cruelly left out of this legislation and have been denied the cap increase,” Deputy Mac Lochlainn added. “I will continue to raise this with the Government.”

In response to the written question tabled by the Sinn Féin TD, the Minister said: “The main provision of the DCB (Amendment) Act 2025 provides that increases in the grant scheme cap and rates from October and November 2024 can retrospectively benefit homeowners who incurred qualifying costs under the grant scheme since 29 March 2024.

“Qualifying homeowners will now be able to apply to their designated local authority to have a new remediation option grant amount determined.”

The Minister signed the commencement order and related regulations, which came into effect on 25 February.