New figures presented to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage show that the number of homes affected by defective concrete blocks has risen to around 9,500. The detail was provided by the County and City Management Association (CCMA), which is due to appear before the committee alongside officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Agency, the National Standards Authority of Ireland, and Engineers Ireland.
Representatives from advocacy groups including the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH), DCB Downgraded, Mayo Pyrite Action Group, and Dr Martina Cleary are also scheduled to give evidence later today. The committee will meet twice to discuss the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme, which was established to support affected homeowners in remediating their properties.
In an opening statement, Donegal County Council Chief Executive John McLaughlin outlined the scale of the issue, saying that "estimates from the affected local authorities" indicate the overall figure of combined public and private dwellings affected is in the region of 9,500. He noted that the figure includes 6,500 properties in Co Donegal, 1,100 in Co Mayo, 860 in Co Clare, 700 in Co Limerick, and at least 300 in Co Sligo.
Mr McLaughlin clarified that the figure "applies only to private dwellings and social housing stock" and does not include any approved house bodies stock "at this time." He also highlighted that each local authority participating in the scheme "are at various stages of implementation." His statement provided updates on applications, approvals, commencements, completions, and payments issued up to 31 December 2025.
In Co Donegal, grant approvals have increased to 1,375, with the total value of grants approved reaching approximately €479 million, according to the CCMA. "Over the same period, the total value of payments issued increased to almost €185 million, reflecting a substantial acceleration in on-site remediation activity," the statement added. In Co Mayo, payments issued have risen to over €69 million, with 141 dwellings fully remediated and a further 115 homes currently undergoing remediation.
The number of applications in Co Clare has increased to 178, with 174 meeting the damage threshold and granted approval, representing over €23 million in grants. In Co Limerick, 25 grant approvals valued at approximately €7.2 million have been issued, with staged payments of around €0.21 million made to support assessment, ancillary costs, and the commencement of remediation work. The scheme began in Co Sligo in April 2025, and to date, ten applications have been received, nine of which meet the damage threshold.
Mr McLaughlin also noted that while the current scheme applies to privately owned dwellings, "local authorities have identified a number of social housing properties impacted by defective concrete blocks." He said the CCMA "would welcome the development of a dedicated scheme to assist in remediating this public housing stock," adding that "it is also acknowledged that there are other buildings such as schools, childcare facilities, etc, affected by defective concrete blocks."
Meanwhile, ICSH Chief Executive Donal McManus urged the introduction of a grant scheme for social housing, saying in his opening statement that the council is calling for "the introduction and implementation of a Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme, Social Homes Scheme and accompanying regulations." He noted that the council engaged with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the drafting of the scheme in 2024, but "despite positive indications then, no pilot or full scheme has been introduced for the social housing sector."
