Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme

Scheme Information and How to Apply

Donegal County Council acknowledges the announcement on the 3^rd July 2023 by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to the introduction of the Enhanced Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme. The Enhanced Grant Scheme has replaced the Previous Scheme and will bring significant and improved changes to assist homeowners who have been impacted and affected by the presence of deleterious materials, to have their homes remediated.

Both Donegal County Council and the Housing Agency have roles in the implementation of the Enhanced Scheme. The Council’s role has changed significantly and primarily involves the administration of the scheme, including the validation of applications and the issuing of payments. The Council does not have any technical / engineering role within the Enhanced Scheme.

Please find below comprehensive information on the Enhanced Grant Scheme, including detailed information on how to submit a valid application.

You are encouraged to review the information provided in advance of submitting your application to the Enhanced Scheme.

Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme - Ministerial Guidelines

Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme: Your Questions Answered

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks - Act 2022

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks- Regulations 2023

Defective Concrete Blocks Planning Services Advice Note - July 2023

Defective Concrete Blocks Planning Services Advice Note - November 2023 Update

Validation requirements under the Enhanced Grant Scheme for a valid application

Guidance on submitting a valid Payment claim for Ancillary Grant - June 2024‌

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Guidance for Self Build Applicants

Remedial Options Available

There are five remedial options available under this 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 €420,000.

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.

Remedial Option	Remedial Works Description
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
Option 2	Demolish and rebuild external walls (both outer and inner leafs) down to foundation on a phased basis and re-render
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
Option 4	Demolish and rebuild external walls (outer leaf only) down to top of rising wall on a phased basis and re-render
Option 5	Demolish and rebuild outer leaf of affected walls only and re-render

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR SUBMITTING A VALID APPLICATION

UNDER THE ENHANCED GRANT SCHEME

Before you begin your application, please make sure you have the following information:

Eircode for the relevant dwelling Eircode | Location Codes - Postcode Finder - Postcode Ireland
Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) of relevant dwelling How to Find Your MPRN | ESB Networks

Planning Reference Number for relevant dwelling – The following link allows applicants to search for planning reference number by Eircode. Eircode Planning Search (arcgis.com) . However, if this is not available for your dwelling you can contact planning section by email at [email protected]

Your Personal Public Service (PPS) Number - this must be for you, the applicant.
Your Tax Clearance Access Number (TCAN) - this must be for your PPS number – See following link for details on how to apply for Tax Clearance https://www.revenue.ie/en/online-services/services/manage-your-record/apply-for-tax-clearance-online-using-etc.aspx

and have the following documents ready for uploading to the Online System:

(a). PLANNING PERMISSION for relevant dwelling – The following link allows applicants to search for a planning reference number by Eircode Eircode Planning Search (arcgis.com).

Using the Planning Reference obtained from the map search, you can obtain a copy of the Final Grant of Planning Permission at the following link https://www.eplanning.ie/DonegalCC/SearchTypes

Please ensure that the Final Grant of Planning Permission is the full document including the schedule setting out any conditions of the planning permission.

However, if your Final Grant of Planning Permission is not available online, please contact the Planning Section by email at [email protected]

(b). CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE with planning permission – this can be provided by the Competent Building Professional.

You may already have a Certificate of Compliance with Planning Permission e.g. obtained upon completion of the original build. However, applicants are advised to consult with their Competent Building Professional to ensure that any Certificate of Compliance with Planning Permission which you may already possess is still relevant. It may no longer be relevant if you have since added an extension to the dwelling or carried out other material alterations and therefore you would need to submit a new Certificate of Compliance with Planning Permission, prepared by your Competent Building Professional.

(c). LETTER OF ASSURANCE - if the application is for a second grant a Letter of Assurance and a Certificate of Remediation is required.

(d). BUILDING CONDITION ASSESSMENT - to be completed by a Competent Building Professional –

A Competent Building Professional can be:

Competent engineer, (registered with Engineers Ireland Engineers Ireland
Building surveyor (registered with SCSI Check The Register – Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (scsi.ie)
Competent architect registered with RIAI Work With An Architect | Find An Architect | RIAI.ie (The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland)

(e). 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.

(f). 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 (A copy of your Folio document can be obtained here: https://www.landdirect.ie/ using the Proceed as Guest option – search using Eircode/Address etc. The ‘View Folio €5.00’ option is sufficient. Print or save to device).

(g). CONSENT OF JOINT OWNERS(S) if the relevant dwelling is jointly owned - this form is available in the following link Consent of Joint Owner Template Form - September 2023 and must be signed by the joint owner(s) and uploaded again.

(h). PRINCIPAL PRIVATE RESIDENCE - Proof that the dwelling is your principal private residence to include two of the documents listed below, each from a different category and showing the applicant's name, address and with a date of issue within the last 6 months:

details on Register of Electors;
bank statement - dated within the last 6 months;
a current car or home insurance policy that shows your address with a date of issue/authentication within the last 6 months
a document issued by a Government Department that shows your address dated within the last 6 months;
a copy of your Tax Credit Certificate (TCC) dated within the last 6 months;
a Statement of Liability (previously P21) from Revenue dated within the last 6 months;
a social insurance document (that shows your address) dated within the last 6 months

(i). If a landlord of the relevant dwelling which stood registered in the Residential Tenancies Board on or before 1 November 2021 – a Certificate of Registration in the residential tenancies register (including details of the registered tenancy number, a tax credit certificate and Statement of liability (previously P21) from Revenue is required.

(j). LOCAL PROPERTY TAX proof of payment is required (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 select ‘General Statement’ and save for uploading as part of the application.

Please note that when applying, a homeowner must provide proof to the designated local authority that there are no outstanding amounts of local property tax.

If you are availing of an exemption under the Defective Concrete Blocks criteria, you will need to contact the LPT department to obtain written confirmation that the exemption has been verified, if it is not already showing as verified on your Payment History.

You can contact the LPT department by:

Telephone: 01 7383626 (+353 1 7383626 International) (ask for the exemptions team)
If you are registered with Revenue Online Services (ROS) through the MyEnquiries portal under MyAccount at www.revenue.ie
Contact Revenue in writing at LPT Branch, PO Box 1, Limerick

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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.