I thank all Deputies for their contributions and for their genuine advocacy and work in this area. I recognise the real hurt and anger right across the country of homeowners who have been impacted by legacy defects as a result of defective concrete blocks. I want to put that on record. As the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, and the Minister, Deputy Browne, have said previously, the Government is committed to assisting homeowners who have been impacted by defective concrete blocks. We have provided significant funding to the scheme and we will continue to do so. We have also kept the scheme under review and have made changes to it as and when required to try to assist more homeowners. The statutory obligation placed on Government by the 2022 Act, arising from the publication of the new IS 465:2026 standard, will now be actioned as soon as possible and a review of the Act will get under way shortly. Importantly, the very large number of homeowners who have already received a determination and grant amount can continue with their works. The current enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme has been open for applications since 2023. The Government put it in place to assist homeowners to remediate damage caused by the use of defective concrete blocks. Notwithstanding that the current grant scheme contains improvements on the previous scheme, the Government has been mindful that the scheme requires monitoring and when changes are needed, they have been actioned. When it was recognised that construction inflation was presenting difficulties for homeowners, an increase in the grant scheme cap and rates was legislated for. This brought the overall scheme cap from €420,000 to a maximum of €462,000, along with an increase in the associated grant rates. The Government is committed to funding all eligible expenditure under the scheme. Originally, the estimated cost was more than €2.2 billion, excluding inflation, with an estimated 7,500 households impacted. I note the comments from Deputies here as to the scale of the challenge ahead. A review is ongoing, with the local government sector, of the numbers and of the impact of the new standard IS 465:2026. Furthermore, the changes to the scheme that the standard might necessitate could add further cost to the scheme. Therefore, Deputies will appreciate that the approach now being taken by Government to review the Act is a logical one. The publication of the revised IS 465 is the culmination of years of work in a complex and sensitive area that has real meaning and importance to thousands of households in many parts of Ireland. The Government is mindful of the very real concerns of affected homeowners who deserve the chance to be helped to fix their homes and to move on with their lives as much as possible. As the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, has said, the Department, in partnership with the local authority sector and the Housing Agency, will update homeowners in the near future in as clear and comprehensive a way as possible regarding what this new standard might mean for them. From listening to the debate, it is clear that one of the primary focuses is to address the issue of foundations. While the focus on foundations is absolutely understandable, the Department's communication will address a wider suite of issues raised in the weeks since the publication of IS 465:2026. Notwithstanding some of the genuinely articulated and personal cases that have been highlighted by Deputies, it is important to point out that the scheme is working for many. As of today, over 3,500 homeowners are at various stages of the grant scheme. Over 500 homes have been remediated, with another 750 at various stages of construction having notified the relevant designated authority of commencement. The Government realised at an early stage that homes affected by defective concrete blocks may not be limited to Donegal, Mayo, Clare and Limerick, and the 2022 Act provides a pathway for additional local authorities to seek designation under the grant scheme. Since 2023, Sligo and parts of the Fingal and Wexford County Council areas have been designated under the grant scheme. As the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, pointed out earlier, parts of Meath County Council and Carlow County Council will shortly be designated under the grant scheme. I am sure this will be welcome news for householders in those areas that have homes impacted by defective concrete blocks. At the end of 2025, the Minister, Deputy Browne, brought forward very important legislation, the Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Act 2025. This Act contains numerous beneficial changes for homeowners in the grant scheme. The Minister operationalised the majority of this Act in February and June of this year. These regulations provided for additional funding to homeowners who were previously unable to avail of the uplift in the scheme cap and rates, which was a particularly important issue for many. Crucially, the regulations also provided for homeowners where either they or members of their family live in a home affected by defective concrete blocks that has been adapted for the needs of the resident living there. The Minister is aware that since the publication of the new standard, homeowners either already in the grant scheme or intending to apply to the scheme will have questions on what the new standard means for them. I emphasise that homeowners already in the scheme and undertaking works can continue with those works. Grant payments will continue to be made by local authorities so homeowners can complete their works. As some Members are aware, officials in my Department met members of the implementation steering group last week to provide an update regarding the scheme and the new standard, noting that the Department will issue guidance for local authorities and the Housing Agency on various categories of applicants to the scheme. At this meeting, members were brought up to speed on the review process and what it will entail. The group includes officials from the designated local authorities, the Housing Agency and the homeowner liaison officer, all of whom can assist homeowners with their queries. The Department met again yesterday with the group to focus on how best to keep homeowners informed of ongoing developments in a timely manner. Allowing the review to be undertaken and completed will be key to the success of the grant scheme. The 2022 Act, as set down by the Oireachtas, clearly identified the need for this review. The review will focus, as per the provisions of section 51 of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, on the operation of the Act, in the first instance, in all matters relating to the introduction of IS 465 and its interaction with the grant scheme will be considered as part of the review. On completion, the Minister will make recommendations to the Government on any proposed changes to the defective concrete blocks scheme. Ensuring homeowners are treated fairly under the grant scheme has and will continue to be the focus of the Government. The Minister is well aware of the urgency of the review. He and his officials are working hard to ensure it is prioritised in a timely fashion. I will circle back to what I said at the outset. I totally understand and appreciate the impact defective concrete blocks have had on homeowners who have been impacted. Very real stories have been articulated by Members of this House. Of that, there is no doubt. I acknowledge everybody involved and their advocacy and work in this area.

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