 Dech chi'n gweithio'r cyfeirio gan bosbwyr a'r ffordd o'r fforddol yn Llaffeydd fel Llywodraeth. Fylltebeth am gyflawni'r ffordd o'r Llywodraeth a'r wyntau'r ffordd o'r Ffordd o'r Llywodraeth. Mae'r ffordd o'r Llywodraeth i'r rhaglen i'r tsifthwyr o'r Grifol Llywodraeth, ac yn y gweithio'r dros y Llywodraeth yn y gwirio'r llaw o'r rhaglen i'r llaw, ac yn y gwirio'r rhaglen i'r llaw o'r rhaglen i'r llwodraeth, Mae'r gwrdd yn ddechrau. Mae'r modd i ddechrau i'r gwrdd hefyd. Mae'i ddweud o'r ddewch yn ddechrau. Ond, gwrdd, mae'n ddechrau. Mae'n gwrdd yn ddechrau. Mae'n ddatblygu'n ddechrau. Mae hi'n ddim yn gwneud, 그게b. Mae'n ddechrau i'r ddewch yn ddechrau. Mae'n dda i'r gweld y rhaid i'r dweud. o'r hangwar o gweithio celerio cipwys, ac mae'n robust o'r cymynod o'r cyfnod athau, a dyfodd yn barataeth i hynny gofyn ar beth o'r cyfrifio. Mae'n dweud yr ar draws o'r cyfrifio, ac mae'n beth o'r cyfrifio, ac mae'n dweud. Mae'n dweud amser dyfodd yn barataeth fel ardo, ac mae'n dweud i'r cyfrifio. Mae'n dweud i'r cyfrifio'r cyfrifio o'r cyfrifio. Mae'n rhaid i gael cyriffaith yw rhan sydd ar�fydd yn gweithio. I know the minister has mentioned that the outreach from the housing agency will, that's an operation, but people need to see this happening, they need to see people on the ground with immediate effect. Second thing, and I was delighted to hear the comment of your colleague minister Smith in relation to the retrofit scheme, and I know we've talked about this off campus as well. The retrofit scheme, while welcoming it and to be assimilating into the mica scheme, it's really, really, really important that we don't add another layer of bureaucracy to what is already a quagmire and in some people's eyes an impossibility to pedal their way through the scheme. So if the retrofit scheme is going to be done in unison, let's do that, let's work it into it that it's not an extra agency or an extra department trying to look for different rules and criteria. This has to be part of the one scheme. Third point I want to raise is that homeowners who have paid the engineering fees, and the last time I was here I mentioned the mother and daughter in Dunigol who have taken out a bank loan of €12,000 from the credit union, that is a lot of money. The mother is not earning, she's on a pension, the daughter is a carer, so they don't have money to be paying back this finance of £12,000. So basically that money has to be paid back as a matter of urgency. The 17% holding back on the payment, that is too high. In fact some people believe that it's actually as high as 25%. That has to be reduced. I know those conversations go on to that effect as well, so it's really important that that is addressed as a matter of priority as well. The point and subject matter of raising this tonight in relation to the SCSI, I think the department made an error in what they did over two weeks ago in drawing up a terms of reference in consultation with the SCSI and not including the homeowner's voice. It was a mistake. It has eroded a confidence in a process that is already at a very vulnerable level, but it really has got the homeowner's backs up that they weren't part of that as well. I know this has been addressed in terms of trying to have a better stakeholder representation, but the real danger here is that the SCSI feeding into the department in terms of terms of reference is that door closed or is it a jar for the homeowner's who are meeting with the SCSI, incidentally, today? Can they still have their voice heard and be part of that terms of reference? Si'n ei ffohony a'n amsio agus bim y jaras yng Nghyrragr hyn. Gorma, I've got to the last corner. I've got to the session. I know we have discussed this, and I'll try and address, if not all of the issues, some of the issues that you've raised in relation to this and perhaps in closing, specifically in relation to the retrofit part of it. Again, just to thank you for consistently raising this issue on behalf of your constituents. I think that it is, like you said, critically that we get this right for the communities that are affected by this. Minister O'Brien brought a memorandum to Government on an enhanced effective concrete block scheme on 30 November 2021. It includes an unprecedented suite of improvements to the current scheme, which removed the financial barrier to the scheme entry by simplifying and streamlining the application process. Increases in the grants available from 90 to 100 per cent of allowable costs and the maximum grant level from €247,500 to €420,000. Provides for a second grant in certain circumstances, introduces an independent appeals process and strengthens the certificate of remediation available to homeowners. Government approved the enhanced scheme, which is estimated to come in at around €2.2 billion. The revised grant calculation methodology will be based on the size of existing home using a cost per square metre. Up-to-date construction costs are an important consideration in that regard, and accordingly, the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland have agreed to produce a report on the up-to-date construction costs for the type of remediation works carried out under the scheme on a variety of home types under the DCP scheme. The SESI will be independent in their work but, in the interests of fairness, have engaged with the department on the matter and have agreed to hear a submission from homeowners on construction costs in the north-west. That relates to the last point that you made to me. The specific grant rates will be implemented and will be set by the department after the SESI will provide independent advice. Construction costs within the SESI report will be reviewed annually to reflect construction cost changes and they are changing rapidly as we are all aware. In relation to implementation of the enhanced scheme, Minister Byn has recently written to the PRO of the Micah Action Group on these matters, updating him on work undertaken today in regard to implementation of the enhanced scheme. It is important that homeowners have the opportunity to engage on implementation of the scheme, and in this regard, John O'Connor, the former chief executive officer of the housing agency, has recently been appointed to act as a liaison between the homeowners and the department and its expert group on implementation of the enhanced scheme. Minister Byn fully understands the level of anxiety and apprehension around the scheme given the scale involved and the homeowners' experiences of the devastation caused by the defect of concrete blocks. I just want to reiterate on behalf of Minister Byn his commitment to urgently build a grand scheme that is fit for purpose with grant rates based on the independent work of the SESI that covers the real costs involved. Again, I will try to come back in on the reply on some of the other issues that you have raised. Gourmayeigad, thank you very much minister. That response is consistent with the information that the minister has been sending on to me as well. To go back and focus in on two elements, independence is used a number of times in this answer. That independence has to be somewhat tarnished in terms of what has happened in the last two weeks, so it is very, very important that whatever submission that the homeowners make, that that is not just seen as a listening exercise but also if they have something to contribute. That has to be done in a very proactive way. I think going back to 2014 when party coffee and myself sat in the room with officials from the Department of Environment at the time, there has been so many false dawns, there has been so many time frames, there has been so many months mentioned, there has been next few weeks this will be done, that will be done. We are all coming out of lockdown, we have all spent two years in lockdown in our homes and people who are fortunate enough to have homes and houses to be in. Michael homeowners have spent two years in their houses that are falling down. They need a time frame that is honest and upfront. I know the minister has said in a response to me that this is going to be completed in the spring, at the end of the spring, for the legislation to go through. I know that Erdegener and his team are working really hard on this. I know they are making a priority, they are meeting twice a week, but it is really important that whatever time frame we give that we stick to it and it does not drag on. In the old Gilead calendar, spring started in Ireland on the 1st of February, in the northern hemisphere it is argued that spring starts on the 1st of March. We need to be very careful about throwing out timelines that are not going to be met or will be met, and that is something that I would ask for as well. Once again, we have to help people to navigate their way through this, and I think that the most important thing today that needs to happen is people who are owed money from the engineers' costs need to be repaid and, lastly, facilitators on the ground as a matter of priority. Thanks, minister. Again, taking on board the points that you have made, Deputy, around the independence and taking on board those submissions in a proactive way, so we will take on board those points, and specifically around owners who have paid engineers' costs. I think that we are moving into the space where we are getting close to a full resolution or moving towards a better resolution, and specifically you have asked about the retrofit part of it as well, and just a number of specific aspects on the parameters of the scheme, which are important to clarify. Foundations are being considered as part of the NSAIs 465 standard review, and any future changes to that will be integrated into the scheme. The scheme is based on legal advice of a like-for-like remediation grant, and remediation options will adhere to building regulations. In respect of home upgrades, I can confirm that homeowners will be eligible for the newly revised SEI retrofit grants on the same terms and conditions as the homeowners. That was clarified by Minister Smith earlier on as well. Significant work is under way to make the immediate improvements to the current scheme in parallel to legislate and implement for the enhanced scheme. Amendment regulations are being finalised to provide for immediate recruitment to homeowners with engineers' fees, the introduction of allowable costs of work essential to immediate repair works to the home, to the value of €5,000, and an increase of the value stage payments, which can be drawn up before the final grant payment. An ex-group has been established to advise Minister O'Brien on technical issues for purposes required in the legislation, for example, damage threshold for entry into the scheme, independent appeals process, second grant conditions and certificate of remediation, engagement with and resourcing of local authorities to continue the work current scheme and the housing agency in respect of the role under enhanced scheme and transition. Lastly, it's important that people accessing the grants under the scheme are able to avail of the national retrofit scheme in a way that delivers a seamless customer experience. Work is already underway between LGH and DEC to provide a streamline mechanism, and it's our intention that this will be deployed over the coming months.