The Enhanced Grant Scheme and its five remediation options

The Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme is the government grant for homes damaged by defective concrete blocks. Its main aim is to help homeowners affected by deleterious materials in their blocks to have their homes remediated.

It is worth reading the official information below before you send in your application. For a walk through the stages, see our step-by-step guide to the scheme.

Who runs the scheme?

Your designated local authority runs the scheme on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The five designated local authorities are Donegal, Mayo, Clare, Limerick and Sligo County Councils.

The law behind the scheme, and behind each council's role, is the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022.

What are the five remediation options?

The grant pays for one of five remedial options, depending on the damage to your home:

1. Option 1: demolish the entire home and rebuild it, in the exact position on the land where it stood before it was demolished.
2. Option 2: demolish and rebuild the external walls (both outer and inner leaves) down to the foundation, in phases, and re-render.
3. Option 3: demolish and rebuild the external walls (both outer and inner leaves) down to the top of the rising wall, in phases, and re-render.
4. Option 4: demolish and rebuild the external walls (outer leaf only) down to the top of the rising wall, in phases, and re-render.
5. Option 5: demolish and rebuild the outer leaf of the affected walls only, and re-render.

If you are given a non-demolition option (2 to 5), you can ask for a full technical review by the Housing Agency. See grant rates and the cap for more on this and on how much each option pays.

Where can I read the official documents?

The law and the Department's guidance

• Ministerial Guidelines for the Enhanced Scheme
• Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme: Your Questions Answered
• The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022
• The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Regulations 2023
• The Section 11 Order 2024 (S.I. 577 of 2024), which raised the cap
• The Amendment Regulations 2024 (S.I. 621 of 2024), which raised the rates
• Defective Concrete Block Rates, October 2024
• Information on Defective Concrete Block Rates
• The Independent Panel for assessment of appeals

Donegal County Council guidance

• Planning Services Advice Note, July 2023
• Planning Services Advice Note, November 2023 update
• Validation requirements: the information and documents needed for a valid application
• Payment claim checklist and sample Schedule 6 Interim Valuation Certificate
• Guidance on submitting a valid payment claim for an ancillary grant, February 2025
• Guidance for self-build applicants
• The role of the competent building professional under the Enhanced Scheme

What else should I read?

• Grant rates and the cap
• Applying for the increased grant, if you had your determination before 23 October 2024
• Time limits in the scheme
• Am I eligible?

If anything is unclear, ask your council or your engineer, or contact us.