HOUSING Minister Darragh O’Brien has announced draft legislation to support the remediation of apartments and duplexes with fire safety defects constructed between 1991 and 2013.
The Government is also set to cover costs already incurred, which is good news for owners of property at Bru na Sionna in Shannon; more than five years ago it emerged that works costing €4 million were required there.
Clare TD Cathal Crowe said that it is a very welcome development for the property owners who were shocked to find that their homes hadn’t been built to the required standard.
“Today marks a major step in ensuring that the owners of the apartments in Bru na Sionna receive the remediation that they have long asked for,” said Deputy Crowe.
“In a 2017 inspection, an inspection of the development identified serious defects, which caused serious concern among the owners about how the €4 million bill would be footed.
“The scheme approved today will help to protect the safety and welfare of the residents of the 240 apartments there, and others around the country like them.
“The scale of defects in apartments and duplexes has been proven to be significant.”
He said that a huge amount of buildings built between 1991 and 2013 may be eligible for the scheme.
“The Working Group to Examine Defects in Housing that reported to Minister O’Brien in July last year, estimated that between 50% and 80% of apartments and duplexes, or associated common areas, constructed between 1991 and 2013, may be affected by one or more fire safety, structural safety or water ingress defects.
“It is intended that a whole building approach will be taken to remediate the relevant defects and it’s also intended that Owners’ Management Companies will be funded to carry out the necessary works.
“I know today will be met with a collective sigh of relief from those living in Bru na Sionna and I’m very glad to see that my colleague Minister O’Brien has listened to these concerns and taken them on board. I look forward to seeing the scheme rolled out.”
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.