Rose Conway-Walsh urges amendment to secure updated SESI rates
Rose Conway-Walsh called for a non-consequential amendment to the emergency planning bill to allow homeowners rebuilding after the defective concrete block scandal to avail of updated SESI rates. She argued the amendment would bridge the gap between rising building costs and existing grant caps and enable families to complete and return to their homes.
Proposal
She asked colleagues to tag on a non-consequential amendment to the emergency planning bill so that homeowners currently in the process of rebuilding can benefit from the updated SESI rates, including retrospective application where needed.
Rationale
She noted the minister has accepted rates needed increasing to address construction inflation, and said this measure is not a policy change but a practical fix to apply updated rates to ongoing cases and address cost increases.
Impact on homeowners
She said the amendment would help bridge the gap between building costs and the grant, assist those constrained by the cap, reduce prolonged rent payments where rentals are unavailable, and enable affected families to complete their houses and return to their homes.
Government response
She emphasised that it has been publicly stated no one would be disadvantaged by the date they entered the scheme. A colleague thanked Geoffrey for the suggestion and a speaker indicated the minister would be asked to review the proposal and engage directly with the matter.
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Today I am asking you to do a very practical thing to help families who are impacted by the defective concrete block scandal. I am asking you to tag on a non-consequential amendment to the emergency planning bill to ensure that homeowners who are currently in the process of rebuilding can avail of the updated SESI rates. This will help bridge the gap between the building costs and the grant. It will also help those who are constrained by the cap. The Minister has accepted that the rates needed to be increased to address construction inflation, so this is not a policy change I am asking for. Tagging on an amendment to enable updated rates to be applied retrospectively would enable the homeowners to get on with rebuilding their homes and their lives. It has been publicly stated on numerous occasions that no one would be disadvantaged by the date at which they entered the scheme. So I am asking, can you tag on this non-consequential amendment to the emergency planning bill that will help people who are in the process of building their houses to get those completed, to get back into their homes, to stop having to pay huge rents when there are not rentals available as well? This is a solution to the situation that people are in. I do not know. Thanks, Geoffrey. You are right, we have consistently said, and we mean it, that no one should be disadvantaged based on when they entered the scheme. You are bringing forward a suggestion that sounds to me to be quite common sense and constructive, and I thank you for that. But just in the absence of all the information, I will ask Minister Brown to take a look at your proposal and to engage with you directly on the matter. Thank you.
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