Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has said that the Celtic Tiger-era building defects redress scheme must be an end-to-end scheme run by the Pyrite Resolution Board, not a grant scheme paid to owners’ management companies.

The Dublin Mid West TD’s comments were made as a general scheme for the redress scheme is due to go to cabinet.

Teachta Ó Broin said:

“This week, Minister O’Brien will seek cabinet approval for a general scheme for redress for Celtic Tiger-era building defects. This legislation has been greatly delayed, causing significant stress and financial hardship for tens of thousands of homeowners and tenants.

“Sinn Féin will study the General Scheme closely on publication. However, from the outset we want to make clear that the Celtic Tiger era building defects redress scheme must be an end-to-end scheme run by the Pyrite Resolution Board, not a grant scheme paid to owners’ management companies.

“The original Pyrite Resolution Scheme introduced in 2013 was end-to-end. This meant that the resolution board was responsible for the inspections, agreeing the necessary works with the homeowner and bringing in and project-managing the building contractor. That scheme has worked well both for homeowners and for ensuring value for money for the taxpayer.

“Unfortunately, government has departed from this model for the Defective Concrete Block Scheme. Despite two iterations of this grant scheme, it has utterly failed to support homeowners remediating their homes.

“Darragh O’Brien must not make this mistake again. Responsibility for the Celtic Tiger-era defects remediation must be given to the Pyrite Resolution Board. Their name should be changed to the Building Defects Resolution Board and, while awaiting amending legislation to the 2013 Act, they should be tasked with setting up the scheme on a non-statutory basis.

“It is also crucial that this scheme is retrospective for all multi-unit developments that have funded defects remediation themselves. The legislation must also ensure that apartments, duplexes, and houses are covered by the scheme and that a significantly increased allocation in next year’s budget is announced in October.

“Of course, all of this should also apply to homes built with defective blocks. They too should have access to an end-to-end scheme and to retrospective funding. There must be absolute equality between all those impacted by building defects and defective building materials.”