Background: The Minister for Housing, Local Government & Heritage announced the commencement of the Enhanced Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme on the 3rd July 2023.
At the commencement date, Donegal County Council had 1296 applications received under the Previous Scheme which required transitioning to the Enhanced Scheme.
The details of these 1296 applications are outlined in Table 1.
Under the provisions of the Enhanced Scheme, the Local Authority has an administrative role. The technical assessment is the remit of the Housing Agency. The initial step for an application, following referral to the Housing Agency, is the Housing Agency’s Determination of Damage Threshold. Details on this cohort of applications is contained with Table 2.
Table 3 provides a further breakdown on the status of the 122 applications from the Previous Scheme which remained to be Validated at 3rd July 2023. These applications are processed under the terms of the Enhanced Scheme.
Table 4 provides an overview of Payments made to applicants since the introduction of the Enhanced Grant Scheme in July 2023.
Table 5 provides an overview on the Enhanced Scheme including applications from the Previous Scheme which are subject to transitional arrangements.
The DCB Office are actively engaging with applicants in respect of incomplete applications. The telephone clinics continue to operate every Tuesday and Thursday (9am – 12.30pm) to assist applicant with any queries.
The Facilitators also continue to actively engage in their respective areas providing assistance and support to applicants. The DCB Office meet with the Facilitators on a monthly basis to discuss emerging issues.
Elected Members will be provided with a Monthly Report on the implementation of the Enhanced Grant Scheme.
Explanation of Categories:
Category 1A – Remediation Works fully completed
Category1B – Remediation Works commenced
Category 2 – Grant Amount notified to applicant but works had not commenced
Category 3 – Stage 2 documentation submitted, but Grant Amount had not been calculated
Category 4 – Applicant notified of Stage 1 Confirmation of Eligibility & Remedial Option
