Homes in Dublin , Wexford to join defective blocks scheme

rte.ie · Feb 24, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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Updated / Tuesday, 24 Feb 2026 00:01 The Minister for Housing James Browne will seek Cabinet approval today for the scheme extension (file pic) The Minister for Housing James Browne will seek Cabinet approval today to extend the defective concrete blocks scheme to a number of homes in Co Wexford and in Fingal in Dublin. It is estimated there are 39 homes affected in Fingal and two in Wexford. The cost of adding both areas to the scheme will be €10m to €15m. In Fingal the 39 affected homes are located in Rush (30), Skerries (6), Lusk (2) and Ballboughal (1). In Wexford the two affected properties are in Bunclody and Ferns. Three years ago the Government set up a grant scheme for homes damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks for properties in counties Clare, Donegal, Limerick and Mayo. County Sligo was added to the scheme in 2024. Chambers to update Cabinet on review of infrastructure regulations Meanwhile, Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers will update Cabinet on a key review of regulations which is seeking to speed up the delivery of big infrastructure projects. It will be carried out by a new regulatory simplification unit the Minister has established. Minister Chambers will tell colleagues that under existing regulations, a transport project - like a new road or public transport initiative - may require up to 30 licences, consents and approvals. These pre-planning processes are taking up to a year for roads, while for waste-water projects they can take between one and four years. O'Donovan to ask Govt to establish museum branch in Limerick The Minister for Culture Patrick O'Donovan will ask the Government to establish a new branch of the National Museum Ireland at the former rugby experience exhibition centre in Limerick city. The property on O'Connell Street in Limerick has been gifted to the State. Under the plan, the centre would become a dedicated women's museum as well as providing space for other exhibitions. O'Brien to brief Cabinet on regional airport investment Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien will brief the Cabinet on a €45m investment in regional airports over the next five years. The airports eligible for funding include Shannon, Ireland West Airport (Knock), Kerry and Donegal. It is expected that a Public Service Obligation air service between Dublin and Derry will also be introduced later this year. Circular Economy Strategy being brought to Cabinet for approval Junior Minister Alan Dillon's Circular Economy Strategy is being brought to Cabinet for approval today. The plan sets out a key target to increase the circular material use rate by 2% each year to reach 12% by 2030. €75m capital programme set to expand healthcare education capacity Minister for Higher Education James Lawless is bringing a memo to Cabinet announcing a €75m capital programme to expand healthcare education capacity. The programme will increase places across medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and Health and Social Care Professions (HSCP) - including 461 new HSCP training places and up to 35 extra dentistry places each year. Joint memo on HSE Capital Plan 2026 to be raised The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley and Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will bring a joint memo to cabinet about the HSE Capital Plan 2026. The disability services part of the HSE capital plan contains €43m for the construction of community-based disability infrastructure for disabled people in 2026.