Taoiseach Simon Harris has given assurance that the 10% increase to the maximum grant in the defective concrete block scheme will benefit homeowners who have already rebuilt their houses.
Mr Harris was speaking in the Dáil yesterday when he said the Housing Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, is making the changes retrospective.
This means that homeowners who are already progressing through/ completed the scheme will be able to avail of a maximum grant of €462,000.
When asked by Donegal Sinn Féin Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn about whether the changes will be in place before the election, Mr Harris said he would ask Minister O’Brien to comment on the timeline.
Deputy MacLochlainn highlighted that many homeowners were at risk of being short tens of thousands of euro on the older cap.
“In some cases, it is more than €100,000. It is crucial that they can avail of this cap too,” he said.
He asked for urgency on the amendment of the 2022 legislation to increase the cap.
“I appeal for a timeframe – if it could happen this week or, at the very latest, next week. We need an amendment to the 2022 legislation to make sure families who are short huge amounts of money can avail of this increase.
“It would be very cruel if that does not happen before the Taoiseach calls an election.”
