Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme

Applications are now being accepted under the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme.

The Scheme provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners whose dwellings have been damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks containing mica, pyrite or other prescribed deleterious materials.

Key Benefits

✔ Up to 100% funding of approved remediation costs, subject to a maximum grant of €462,000 per dwelling.
✔ Funding available for remediation works, professional fees, Building Condition Assessments, VAT, alternative accommodation, storage and essential immediate repair works, subject to a maximum grant of €462,000 per dwelling.
✔ Eligible rental properties registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) may qualify, subject to scheme conditions.
✔ Independent appeals process and Government-backed guarantee provisions.

The Defective Concrete Grant Scheme is available to the owners of dwellings located in the Carlow Town and County administrative area.

To make an application to the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme, refer to the Report Templates and latest guidance documents available below. Applications will only be accepted in hard copy format. For queries on the scheme, email dcb@carlowcoco.ie

Who does the scheme apply to?

The Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme applies to the owners of dwellings located in Carlow where dwellings are damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks containing excessive amounts of mica or pyrite or such other deleterious materials or combination of deleterious materials.

A relevant owner must:

have acquired ownership of the dwelling prior to 31st January 2020 (or inherited the dwelling on or after 31st January 2020);
or be the landlord where there was a registered tenancy on or before 1st November 2021 – except where the resident had to leave the dwelling due to damage caused by defective concrete blocks.

The relevant dwelling must be a dwelling that:

is located in the administrative area of a designated local authority;
the construction of which was completed prior to the 31st January 2020;
was constructed using defective concrete blocks and has been damaged due to the use of the defective concrete blocks;
is not an unauthorised structure/have Planning Permission; and
is either an owner occupied principal residence purchased prior to 31st January 2020 or a property registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) on or before the 1st November 2021 subject to a maximum of one rental property per household and the introduction of a clawback mechanism upon re-sale within a set time period depending on the remediation option used.

On this page:

•    Overview of Process
•    How to Apply
•    Key Features
•    Tips for Applicants
•    What type of dwelling does not qualify for the Enhanced Grant Scheme?
•    Remedial Options Available
•    Definition of Damage Threshold
•    What costs are covered in the Enhanced Grant Scheme?
•    Role of the Local Authority
•    Role of the Housing Agency
•    Useful Links

Overview of Process

Stage 1. Application is Made

Homeowner engages a competent building professional to carry out a Building Condition Assessment (BCA) report assessing the damage threshold. For BCA Report Template refer to the Report Templates and latest guidance documents below.
Homeowner should submit an application to Carlow County Council with a copy of the BCA report.
Carlow County Council will consider if the application is valid and will refer valid applications to the Housing Agency.
Housing Agency assesses the level of damage and notifies the local authority whether the dwelling meets or does not meet the damage threshold.
Local authority notifies the homeowner of the determination by the Housing Agency.

Stage 2. Home is Assessed and Remediation Option Decided

Competent Engineer on behalf of the Housing Agency undertakes testing and assessment of the dwelling.
Housing Agency notifies the local authority of the determined appropriate remediation option or combination of remediation options and the remediation option grant amount.
Carlow County Council notifies the homeowner of the determinations by the Housing Agency.

Stage 3. Work is Carried Out, Grant is Paid and Certificate is Issued

Homeowner engages a competent building professional to complete a Remedial Works Plan for the approved remediation option and submits to the local authority.
Homeowner engages a building contractor and can request stage payments from Carlow County Council.
Homeowner applies to Carlow County Council for other grants for alternative accommodation, storage and immediate repairs where necessary.
A Certificate of Remediation completed by the competent building professional is submitted to Carlow County Council with the homeowner's final grant payment request.
Carlow County Council issues a Letter of Assurance to the homeowner following receipt of the Certificate of Remediation for the approved remediation options other than demolition and rebuild

How to Apply

Before you apply, please read the scheme information below so you are familiar with what information you will be asked to provide and what documents are needed.

Make sure that the information you supply in relation to PPS Number, Tax Clearance Access Number and Eircode etc. is correct, to avoid delays in the processing of your application.

It is important that you supply us with all the documentation we request from you so that your application can be submitted and assessed.

If after reading the guidance you still have questions, please email the Defective Concrete Block team at dcb@carlowcoco.ie

Key Features

Key features of the Scheme include:

100% grants subject to an overall maximum grant of €462,000 per dwelling,
grant rates in keeping with advice from Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI),
a government guarantee in the form of a second grant option if required for a period of 40 years,
a revised application process which removes the financial barrier to scheme entry,
an independent appeals process for applicants,
alternative accommodation and storage costs and immediate repair works to a maximum value of €27,500,
the expertise of the Housing Agency in assessing applications,
the inclusion of Residential Tenancies Board registered rental properties,
exempt development status for like for like remediation works completed under the scheme.

Tips for Applicants

Where it is suspected that a dwelling has been damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks in its construction, the homeowner should engage a competent building professional to carry out a ‘Building Condition Assessment’ report as prescribed by the Minister, which will broadly be in accordance with the template in the Irish Standard I.S. 465:2018. This assessment will form part of the application that is submitted to Carlow County Council. If the damage to the home is consistent with defective concrete blocks as per I.S. 465:2018, and your building professional considers that it will meet the prescribed damage threshold the homeowner should make an application under the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme to Carlow County Council.

A “competent building professional” as set out below can complete a Building Condition Assessment Report:

Competent architect, meaning a person whose name is entered in the register for architects established under Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007 and who has completed such training that may be prescribed in relation to damage caused to dwellings by the use of defective concrete blocks in their construction; or
Competent building surveyor meaning a person whose name is entered in the register for building surveyors established under Part 5 of the Building Control Act 2007, and who has completed such training that may be prescribed in relation to damage caused to dwellings by the use of defective concrete blocks in their construction; or
Competent engineer meaning a person whose name is entered in the register kept by the Institute of Engineers of Ireland under section 7 of The Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland (Charter Amendment) Act 1969, and who has completed such training that may be prescribed in relation to damage caused to dwellings by the use of defective concrete blocks in their construction.

See below for links to respective associated websites.

Architects

Building Surveyors

Engineers

Before you submit the application, please make sure you have:

The Eircode for the relevant dwelling Eircode Eircode Finder
Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) of relevant dwelling How to Find Your MPRN
Planning Reference Number for relevant dwelling Planning Permission | Carlow Co Co
Your PPS Number - this must be for you, the applicant
Your Tax Clearance Access Number (TCAN) - this must be for your PPS number
It is recommended that you register with revenue where you can check your tax compliance as this needs to be in order when you apply. Revenue will give you a Tax Clearance Access Number (TCAN). This is the number you need to provide here. We will use it along with your PPSN to check that your tax affairs are in order.

and have the following ready for submission in hard copy:

Copy of Planning Permission in respect of relevant dwelling and Certificate of Compliance with planning permission provided by the competent building professional
If an application for a second grant, letter of Assurance and Certificate of Remediation
Building Condition Assessment
Proof of Identity of the Applicant a valid passport, or a valid driving license, or a Public Service Card issued by the Department of Social Protection
Proof of Ownership - such proof being one of: a copy of title deed for the relevant dwelling, a registration of title or other legal documents proving proof of ownership
Consent of joint owner(s) if the relevant dwelling is jointly owned - this form will be available to download and must be signed by the joint owner(s)
Proof that the relevant dwelling is your Principal Private Residence (dated within the last 6 months and showing applicant name and address) - at least two of the documents listed below required:
- details on Register of Electors;
- bank statement - dated within the last 6 months;
- a current car or home insurance policy that shows your address;
- a document issued by a Government Department that shows your address;
- a copy of your Tax Credit Certificate (TCC);
- a Statement of Liability (previously P21) from Revenue;
- a social insurance document (that shows your address)
If a landlord of the relevant dwelling – a certificate of registration in the residential tenancies register (including details of the registered landlord number and registered tenancy number, a tax credit certificate and Statement of liability (previously P21) from Revenue is required
Proof of payment of the Local Property Tax (Payment History)

You can log in directly to LPT if you have your PPSN, Property ID and PIN. Click on View Payment History and at the bottom of the screen, you can Print – choose something like Print to Microsoft PDF to create a pdf for submission as part of the application. You can also access your LPT records via your myAccount if registered with Revenue. Please note that when submitting an application, a homeowner must provide proof to the designated local authority that there are no outstanding amounts of local property tax.

Make sure that the information you supply in relation to PPS Number, Tax Clearance Access Number and Eircode etc. is correct, to avoid delays in the processing of your application.

It is important that you supply Carlow County Council with all the documentation that's requested so that your application can be assessed.

What Type of Dwelling Does Not Qualify for the Enhanced Grant Scheme?

Holiday Homes
Vacant residential properties
Apartment, maisonette and duplex dwellings (see the Your Questions Answered document Question 15 for more information)
Any structure on land appurtenant to the dwelling in the construction of which defective concrete blocks were used, unless the Housing Agency is satisfied that damage may be caused to the dwelling, after the completion of a remediation option, by the failure to include the structure, or
A building that provides multi-occupancy accommodation under conditions specified by the provider of the accommodation, including a nursing home, boarding school, hotel or hostel.

Remedial Options Available

There are five remedial options available under this grant scheme. The maximum grant approved for each remedial option is determined by the grant rates approved by the Minister and will be sufficient to cover 100% of the necessary works subject to the grant rates and over all grant cap of €462,000. The maximum grant payable will be 100% of the approved grant amount or 100% of the actual vouched cost of the qualifying works carried out, whichever is the lesser. As the remedial works progress, the homeowner will be eligible to apply for grant payments in stages on submission of interim valuation certificates by their competent building professional.

Remedial Option 1: Demolish entire dwelling and rebuild (in the exact position on the land on which the relevant dwelling was situated before it was demolished

Remedial Option 2: Demolish and rebuild external walls (both outer and inner leafs) down to foundation on a phased basis and re-render

Remedial Option 3: Demolish and rebuild external walls (both outer and internal leafs) down to top of rising wall on a phased basis and re-render

Remedial Option 4: Demolish and rebuild external walls (outer leaf only) down to top of rising wall on a phased basis and re-render

Remedial Option 5: Demolish and rebuild outer leaf of affected walls only and re-render

Definition of Damage Threshold

The 'damage threshold' is the minimum level of damage which must be present in a home in order for that dwelling to be allowed access into the Enhanced Grant Scheme.

Once a valid application is lodged and once a dwelling has met the damage threshold for entry to the scheme, which threshold is to be specified in the Regulations, the Housing Agency will arrange for the assessment, sampling testing and categorisation of the dwelling on a priority basis in accordance with the national standard I.S. 465:2018 and thereafter determine the appropriate remediation option and grant amount.

The damage itself must be linked to the suspected presence of defective concrete blocks in the home and will be considered as part of the Building Condition Assessment process.

The purpose of having a damage threshold is to ensure that the worst affected homes are prioritised first. In removing any damage threshold, this would have a significant negative impact on the capacity of the statutory process to address the worst affected houses first.

What Costs are Covered by the Enhanced Grant Scheme?

The grant scheme covers 100% of the costs of the remediation works approved subject to the grant rates and overall grant cap of €462,000. The grant and the grant rates set by the Minister include for;

Professional fees
Building Condition Assessment Report
The approved remediation works
Alternative accommodation costs
Removal and Storage costs
Essential Immediate Repair Works
Cost of disconnection and reconnection of services and utilities
Value Added Tax

Role of the Local Authority

Local Authorities have responsibility for the administration of the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme. This includes the initial validation of applications, notifying homeowners of the Housing Agency's determinations on damage threshold, the appropriate remediation option and grant amount, determination of the grant payable for alternative accommodation and storage costs and immediate repair works and the subsequent payment of grants to successful applicants. The Local Authority will notify homeowners of all the Housing Agency's determinations.

Role of the Housing Agency

Once a home has met the damage threshold for entry to the scheme, the Housing Agency will engage its Framework Chartered Engineers to undertake the assessment, survey, sampling, testing and categorisation of the dwelling thereafter on a priority basis in accordance with the national standard I.S. 465:2018 and thereafter determine the appropriate remediation option and grant amount.

The Housing Agency will act as agents on behalf of the local authorities under the Enhanced Grant Scheme. Applications received by Carlow County Council will be referred to the Housing Agency to review the ‘Building Condition Assessment’ (BCA) report and determine if the home has met the ‘damage threshold’ for entry to the scheme.

Once a home has met the damage threshold for entry to the scheme, the Housing Agency will appoint an authorised officer for the purposes of conducting an assessment, sampling, testing and categorisation of dwellings on a priority basis in accordance with the national standard IS 465:2018 to enable the Housing Agency to determine the appropriate remediation option and grant amount.

The Housing Agency will determine the priority in which it may assess dwellings, both under the initial damage threshold (BCA) application stage and the remediation option grant assessment stage. This process will take account of the following

the relative severity and impact of damage attributable to the dwelling as a result of defective concrete blocks;
the relative urgency of the need for remediation;
the proximity of the dwelling to other affected properties at time of assessment;
the resources (including financial resources) available or likely to be available to the Housing Agency