The Bill will support the remediation of apartments and duplexes with relevant fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects, constructed between 1991 and 2013. Under the proposed legislation 100% of eligible remediation costs will be covered.
The legislation will provide a statutory basis for the establishment of a more than €2 billion remediation scheme aimed at protecting the safety and welfare of those living in apartments or duplexes with such defects that occurred during construction.
Speaking following the cabinet meeting, Minister O'Brien said: "I'm delighted to get Cabinet approval which means my Department will now draft the necessary legislation as a matter of priority.
"I am very aware of the stress and concern that many owners of apartments and duplexes are facing as a result of legacy defects. Having engaged with many owners I know the financial and personal strain this is putting on their lives and I am glad we are moving forward with this next step."
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Progressing this legislation is an important milestone. It will complement the interim measures that the Government has already put in place since December last year to fund relevant emergency fire safety defect works, in order to provide an acceptable level of fire safety in buildings, pending completion of the full remedial works under a statutory scheme.
The Housing Agency will play a central role in the administration of the scheme and they will ensure that Owners' Management Companies (OMCs) are funded to carry out the relevant remediation works, with specific limitations or exemptions on certain commercial owners.
Minister O'Brien added: "While this legislation is being progressed I want to remind owners that the Interim Remediation Scheme for emergency fire safety works remains open and I want to thank the Housing Agency for their work with this scheme and guiding developments through the process.
"I also want to thank the representative groups, the Apartment Owners Network, the Construction Defects Alliance and the Not Our Fault Campaign for their ongoing engagement."
Mindful of the need to ensure that measures and systems are improved, aligned and in place so as to ensure that a situation like this does not and cannot occur again the Minister concluded: "We need to continue strengthening our building control system so that similar issues don't arise in the future. Legislation to establish a new Building Standards Regulatory Authority is under way and will ensure effective powers of inspection and enforcement and an appropriate suite of sanctions."
