NEWS
Latest DCB Scheme Announcements & Retrospective Payments
March 2026 Updates from Rebuild Energy & Donegal County Council
What the Latest DCB Grant Report Means for Donegal Homeowners
The scheme is moving, €194 million has been paid out and hundreds of homes are being rebuilt. Here’s what the numbers tell us, and how we can help you navigate the process.
Every month, Donegal County Council publishes an activity report on the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme. The January 2026 report shows real momentum – but it also reveals where applications stall and how easily delays can creep in. If your home has been affected by defective blocks, understanding these figures matters.
The Scheme at a Glance
Since the Enhanced Scheme opened in July 2023, Donegal County Council has received 2,467 formal applications from the 3,602 homeowners who registered online. Of those, 1,388 have been approved for a remediation option and grant amount, with a combined value of over €482 million. A total of €194 million has already been paid directly to homeowners.
288 homes have been fully remediated, and a further 563 are currently undergoing works. That’s 851 families who have reached the construction stage – a significant milestone, but still a fraction of those who need help.
The good news is clear: payments are flowing and the Council is processing valid claims quickly – on average just 10.4 days from a valid claim being approved to payment being issued.
But the key word there is valid. When claims are submitted with errors or missing information, the average jumps to 26.4 days. That’s more than two and a half weeks of avoidable delay.
Where Applications Get Stuck
Of the 3,602 homeowners who registered, only 2,467 have submitted a full application – meaning over 1,100 registrations haven’t progressed. From application to approved grant, there’s another significant drop. And of the 1,388 approved, only 851 have commenced works.
There are a number of points in the process where things can slow down or stall entirely:
Each of these delays can cost weeks or months.
- Incomplete applications that need to go back and forth with the Council for additional information
- Delays in submitting the Declaration of Floor Area, which is needed before a grant amount can be calculated
- Waiting for the Housing Agency's Damage Threshold determination, which takes an average of 60 days
- Errors in payment claims that push the processing time from 10 days to nearly 27 days
- Missing or incorrect documentation from the Competent Building Professional
Timing is Everything
The January 2026 report shows that payments have increased substantially over the past year. November 2025 saw the highest single month at €15.8 million, and the overall trend is upward. The Council has now paid out nearly €194 million to homeowners across both the previous and enhanced schemes.
This is encouraging – but it also means the system is busier than ever. With 563 remediation projects currently underway and more approvals coming through each month, the volume of payment claims is growing. Getting your claim in correctly and promptly means you’re not waiting behind a backlog caused by incomplete submissions from others.
Your Area, Your Situation
The report breaks down active applications by municipal district.
Inishowen accounts for over half of all applications at 1,226, followed by Letterkenny-Milford with 799. Lifford-Stranorlar has 293, with smaller numbers in Glenties and Donegal town.
Wherever you are in the county, the process is the same – and the challenges are the same.
Haven't Applied Yet?
If you registered online but haven’t yet submitted your full application, you’re not alone – over 1,100 homeowners are in the same position. The process can feel overwhelming, particularly when you’re already dealing with the stress of living in an affected home. But the scheme is active, the funding is flowing, and the sooner a correct application is submitted, the sooner you move through the pipeline.
What we offer
For homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks (DCB), SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) grants are additional energy-efficiency funds you can claim alongside your main remediation grant.
The goal is to help you move beyond just “fixing” the house and actually “upgrading” it to modern energy standards (BER B2 or better) while the construction work is already happening.
How They Work Together
The DCB Grant (Council): Covers the cost of remediating the structural damage (e.g., rebuilding walls or the entire house) on a “like-for-like” basis to 2007/2008 building regulations.
The SEAI Grant: Covers the extra cost of adding high-spec energy measures like heat pumps, high-performance windows, and superior insulation that go above and beyond standard repairs.
We can apply for the SEAI grant of up to €36,000 on your behalf and guide you though this process from start to finish.
No paperwork needed for the initial conversation. We’ll explain the process and answer any questions you have.