CHANGES to the Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) grant scheme aimed at supporting more affected homeowners have now been formally enacted by the Government.
The amendments, confirmed through the signing of the Second Commencement Order (S.I. No. 221 of 2026) and associated Regulations (S.I. No. 225 of 2026) by Housing Minister James Browne, will allow certain homeowners with disability-adapted properties to build replacement homes on the same site, while also enabling some semi-detached homeowners to rebuild alongside adjoining properties even if they do not meet the existing damage threshold.
Donegal Minister of State, Charlie McConalogue, says the adjustments to the Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) grant scheme that have been enacted are a significant step in the delivery of the scheme.
“I welcome the changes announced by Minister Browne through the signing of the commencement order that will allow for side-by-side dwellings that were adapted. This will enable families who have adapted a house for disability needs to be able to continue to live in their home and build afresh on a different part of the same site and will be of benefit to a number of families in the county.
“A separate change also provides for semi-detached houses that don’t meet the damage threshold to now be able to proceed with their rebuild at the same time as an adjoining house. I thank Minister Browne for taking on board the need for these changes and having followed through and introduced them.”
“This is latest stage in stepping out the DCB grant scheme in Donegal, and we are seeing massive progress on the ground. 604 houses are currently under construction, while 345 are finished. Over the course of this year, we are on target to reach over 1,000 homes in Donegal either under construction or completed. This is significant progress, with new homeowners each week completing the work of having their homes remediated. It’s heartening to see families coming through the process, and 345 families now back in their completed homes,” he added.
“I will continue to work with the Minister for Housing, Donegal County Council and the Housing Agency to make sure any outstanding issues are considered and addressed. It’s important that the review of IS465 by the National Standards Authority of Ireland is now published and fully considered and that any necessary further adjustments are made to the scheme,” the Donegal Minister of State commented.