Government to establish reimbursement programme for those who fixed Celtic Tiger-era defects 

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said there are roughly 100,000 apartments impacted by construction defects, of which a third have already had remediation works carried out. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

The Government is to establish a pilot programme to reimburse apartment owners who fixed Celtic Tiger-era defects without State supports.

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said there are roughly 100,000 apartments impacted by construction defects, of which a third have already had remediation works carried out.

The new pilot programme itself would work to provide repayments to over 1,000 households, but Mr O’Brien declined to give an exact figure, citing residents who want their privacy to be maintained.

The Housing Minister said a “handful” of apartments would be focused on first and that would allow the government to establish a “formula” on repayments for works carried out by apartment and duplex owners.

Asked if there would be attempts to hold companies responsible for defects, Mr O’Brien said the statute of limitations for many have already run out.

“In many instances companies have folded and have set back up again and are building again. That’s a great frustration for me,” Mr O’Brien said.

He did not say if he would name specific companies who built defective apartments and complexes, but said he is being led by the wishes of residents.

They really need to see progress in remediating their homes but bringing their lives back together as well. The stress people have been under in living with these type of horrendous defects.

“The issues they’ve had with regard to costs and trying to fund things themselves, increased insurance costs and in some instances where there’s been threats to withdraw insurance from certain developments.” 

However, he said he would not be “closing the door” on any legal action against builders, but cited how some were asked to contribute to the pyrite scheme.

“We need to ensure that these legacy issues, that this is the last we’re dealing with. That this never happens again,” Mr O’Brien added.

He cited his plans to bring forward a new watchdog for building standards, saying this would harden regulations in the construction industry and prevent Celtic Tiger-style defects.

The new pilot scheme was approved by Cabinet, with the Housing Minister due to brief ministers on the results after its conclusion and examine any learnings that can be made.