Darragh O'Brien

The redress scheme to be established under the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022, which will now include counties Limerick and Clare, will provide for 100 per cent grants subject to an overall maximum grant of €420,000 per dwelling.

It could cost the State as much as €3 billion to implement, ministers believe.

Housing minister Darragh O’Brien said: “Since establishing the working group in June 2021, affected homeowners have put a significant amount of time and effort into working with my department through the homeowner liaison officer John O’Connor, on the development of the enhanced scheme.

“I am satisfied that the enhanced scheme will represent a significant step forward in having a fit for purpose grant scheme which will help homeowners rebuild their homes and their lives.”

The government has also reportedly abandoned plans to seek a waiver of pre-legislative scrutiny on the bill, a move welcomed by campaigning groups including the Mica Action Group (MAG), which represents affected homeowners.

There will instead be a single hearing, expected to take place on Wednesday 22 June, which will hear from homeowners, construction experts and civil servants.