LATEST: 'Celtic Tiger' apartments with defects in Kildare set to benefit from €2.5bn repair scheme

Some of the estimated 100,000 'Celtic Tiger' properties that have building defects are believed to be in Co Kildare.

Last week the Government announced a €2.5bn scheme will cover repair work to apartments and duplexes across the country.

Fire safety is the biggest issue with the properties followed by structural problems and water ingress issues.

The scheme is set to cover buildings constructed between 1991 and 2013.

A Department of Housing spokesperson told the Leinster Leader that there is no county-by-county breakdown on where the properties are located.

However an expert group appointed by Housing Minister Daragh O'Brien concluded that there are properties in all local authority areas.

The report stated: "The Working Group is satisfied that fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartments and duplexes constructed between 1991 and 2013 is a widespread issue.

"Every local authority area has apartments or duplexes that are affected by these defects."

The Working Group to Examine Defects in Housing estimated that between 50% and 80% of apartments and duplexes built between 1991 and 2013 are impacted by some kind of defect.

The scheme will be administered by the Housing Agency and money will be awarded to management companies to carry out the repairs.

Minister O'Brien said last week that officials believe there be an average cost per unit of €25,000 and that some will be less and some will be significantly more.

He said: "We have estimated the overall cost of this scheme will range between €1.6bn and €2.5bn, but I have been very clear that it will be a fully funded scheme."