Concerns are beginning to grow that there will be no form of redress mechanism for homeowners with defective homes, due to fire safety issues and water ingress, in Budget 2022.

Sinn Féin representative Eoin Ó Broin has said the inclusion of redress is looking "increasingly unlikely".

Commenting after posing a question to Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien, Deputy Ó Broin said: "The working group that he established to examine this issue has been meeting, but it appears that it is much delayed, and the 12-month deadline has not been met.

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"We have families who are faced with paying very significant levies to tackle fire safety defects across the state.

"The reality is if there is not some measure in the upcoming budget, even interim measures while the Minister is awaiting the full report, those families will have to wait another year before there is a prospect of any redress.

"For example, the Constructive Defects Alliance, a representative group for some of these homeowners has been calling for homeowners who have had to pay those levies of €10,000 to €20,000, to be able to write off the cost of capital improvements against future tax liabilities.

"This is a mechanism currently in place for landlords and it could easily be extended to these homeowners.

"My deep concern now is that there will be nothing for these people in the Budget 2022 and that is simply not good enough."