Defective Blocks Scheme Expanded to Dublin and Wexford Homes

The Irish government is set to extend its Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) scheme to include homes in Fingal, Dublin, and counties Wexford, providing remediation for properties affected by problematic concrete.

Scheme Expansion Details

Minister for Housing James Browne is seeking Cabinet approval to add 39 homes in Fingal and two homes in Wexford to the existing scheme. The estimated cost of this expansion is between €10 million and €15 million [RTÉ].

The affected homes in Fingal are located in the following areas:

• Rush (30 homes)
• Skerries (6 homes)
• Lusk (2 homes)
• Ballboughal (1 home)

In Wexford, the two affected properties are situated in Bunclody and Ferns [RTÉ].

Background of the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme

The DCB scheme was initially established three years ago to provide grants for homes damaged by defective concrete blocks in counties Clare, Donegal, Limerick, and Mayo. County Sligo was added to the scheme in 2024 [RTÉ].

Other Cabinet Updates

In addition to the DCB scheme expansion, the Cabinet is too expected to discuss the following:

• Infrastructure Regulations Review: Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers will present a review of regulations aimed at accelerating the delivery of large infrastructure projects [RTÉ]. Current regulations can require up to 30 licenses and approvals for transport projects, causing delays of up to a year for roads and one to four years for wastewater projects.
• National Museum Branch in Limerick: Minister for Culture Patrick O’Donovan will propose establishing a new branch of the National Museum of Ireland in Limerick, utilizing a gifted property on O’Connell Street, potentially as a dedicated women’s museum [RTÉ].
• Regional Airport Investment: Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien will brief the Cabinet on a €45 million investment plan for regional airports, including Shannon, Ireland West Airport (Knock), Kerry, and Donegal [RTÉ]. A Public Service Obligation air service between Dublin and Derry is also planned.
• Circular Economy Strategy: Junior Minister Alan Dillon’s Circular Economy Strategy, aiming for a 2% annual increase in circular material employ to reach 12% by 2030, will be presented for approval.
• Healthcare Education Capacity Expansion: Minister for Higher Education James Lawless will announce a €75 million capital program to expand capacity in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and Health and Social Care Professions (HSCP), including 461 new HSCP training places and 35 additional dentistry places annually.
• HSE Capital Plan 2026: Ministers Norma Foley and Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will jointly present the HSE Capital Plan 2026, allocating €43 million for community-based disability infrastructure.