Paul Murphy: Homeowners still waiting for apartment repairs
Paul Murphy criticised government delays over the defects redress scheme for apartments and duplexes, saying homeowners remain unpaid and at risk. He warned interim funding for emergency fire safety measures has not been delivered despite hundreds of applications.
Findings of the defects report
The Government received a report two years ago showing a majority of apartments and duplexes built between 1991 and 2013 were likely affected - possibly 100,000 units - with an average repair cost of €25,000 each, which has probably increased since.
Redress and interim schemes announced
A year and a half has passed since the Government announced a 100% redress scheme with retrospection. An interim scheme for emergency fire safety measures was announced about 16 months ago and has since opened for applications.
Applications lodged but no payments
Almost 300 individual applications have been made for different apartment blocks and multi-unit developments, representing almost 16,000 residential units. Despite those applications, not a single cent of interim funding has been paid out for emergency fire safety measures.
Legislative delay and electoral timing
There is still no heads of bill or full legislation in place for the overall scheme, and the speaker said it is very unlikely the legislation will be enacted before the next general election. He warned that promises alone are insufficient and called for action.
Government response on interim funding
A reply noted a recent meeting between the minister and the LGMA concerning interim funding and the outstanding applications. The minister committed to providing a written update on the matter, according to the exchange recorded in the speech.
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It is now two years since the Government received the report into the scale of defects in apartments and duplexes, revealing that a majority of those properties built between 1991 and 2013 were likely affected, maybe 100,000 apartments and duplexes facing an average cost, which has probably gone up since, of 25,000 euros each to repair. It is a year and a half since the Government welcomely announced that there would be a 100% redress scheme with retrospection, it is a similar amount of times, about 16 months, since the Government announced that there would be an interim scheme for emergency fire safety measures, but that scheme has opened, almost 300 individual applications have been made for different apartment blocks, multi-unit developments, representing almost 16,000 residential units. But still not a single cent has been paid out in terms of interim funding, this is for emergency fire safety measures, there appear to be significant delays, we still do not have the legislation, in terms of a heads of bill, in terms of the overall scheme, which it is very unlikely at this stage that we will get that before the next general election, which means all we have, and all these homeowners have, is a promise, which is not good enough, we need to have action. Thank you to Deputy Murphy on the apartments and duplex defects scheme, I just need to get you a note on this, I don't have the information to hand, but my understanding is there was a meeting between Minister O'Brien and the LGMA in recent weeks in terms of that issue around interim funding, and what can be done with the applications that are in, but I don't have the access to the information here, but I will come back to you in writing. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
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