Remediation of houses with defective blocks could cost €2bn without fully resolving issues

The Government’s Defective Block Remediation Scheme could cost the State in excess of €2 billion and might still not fully resolve the issues affecting homes with mica and pyrite blockwork, Engineers Ireland will tell an Oireachtas committee on Thursday.

Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien announced a new “enhanced” scheme earlier this month that will offer up an increased maximum of €420,000 to homeowners to rebuild their houses that have been damaged by defects in the blockwork, which cause the structures to deteriorate and crumble.

There is no definite estimate on how many homes are affected but the instances of properties impacted by mica and pyrite have increased.

There were a total of 1,296 applications for the previous scheme but the overall number could be close to 10,000. Campaigners in Donegal are of the view that as many as 5,000 houses are affected there.

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The committee, chaired by Green Party TD Stephen Matthews, is examining the new remediation scheme and also discussing if the industry standard for blocks is robust enough to prevent such defects from emerging in the future.

In an opening statement submitted to the committee, Engineers Ireland says that almost 10 years have passed since the defective concrete problem was raised and, even now, more research needs to be conducted to ensure a cast-iron standard.

It says that dwellings built as far back as 1994 have been found to have muscovite mica and pyrrhotite (equivalent total sulphur levels above allowable limits).

“There is still much debate about the cause, or causes, of the problem. It is imperative that meaningful research is carried out, given the scale of the problem which may have implications far beyond the counties already recognised as having defective concrete block problems,” it states.

“Research into the causes of deterioration has only just commenced. There will remain a lack of data for a considerable time going forward, thus conservative approaches in any remediation proposal may prevail.”

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The representative body argues that flexibility will have to be shown in the scheme.

“Engineers have observed cases where homeowners who have had to test their property for house sale discover the blockwork is defective even though there is no visual damage.

“These homeowners should be included in the scheme. Criteria must be put in place to allow remediated properties to be sold and mortgaged.”

Based on current estimates the defective concrete block remediation scheme alone will cost the State in excess of €2 billion.

The body says that if each local authority were to employ an additional five to 10 engineers to conduct inspections and oversight on construction problems, it would help prevent future failures at a reasonable cost.

In his submission to the committee, Feargal Ó Coigligh of the Department of Housing says that the enhanced defective concrete blocks scheme, launched two weeks ago, will provide grants of up to €420,000 for those affected.

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The improved package of measures under this considerably enhanced scheme should help to mark a new beginning for those who need to remediate their homes.

“The vast majority of those who need help will get all the financial assistance they need.”