Pyrite Remediation Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

Questions (593, 594)

Clare Daly

Question:

593. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 72 and 718 of 16 January 2013 regarding the proposed pyrite resolution board, if he will confirm that an estate known to have heave-inducing levels of pyrite in the underfloor fill, a house which in the opinion of a chartered engineer, has physical damage associated with proven heave-inducing levels of pyrite, will be remediated if the initial ten-year HomeBond structural guarantee has lapsed. [5799/13]

Clare Daly

Question:

594. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 718 of 16 January 2013, if he will explain what is meant by Homebond will provide indirect funding for the remediation process by making technical and administrative services available at lower than market cost, in particular what is meant by market cost. [5800/13]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 593 and 594 together.

The Pyrite Resolution Board will, in conjunction with my Department, draw up the terms and conditions for a pyrite remediation scheme, including the eligibility criteria that will be applied. In this context, the Resolution Board will have regard to I.S 398 –– Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1. This standard provides accurate and reliable protocols to determine whether or not a building is or may be affected by reactive pyrite in the sub-floor hardcore material and gives clear guidance on the process and procedures to be followed in order to determine if a dwelling should be remediated.

In conjunction with the Construction Industry Federation and the Irish Concrete Federation, HomeBond has agreed to set up an entity to operate a remediation scheme under the supervision of the Pyrite Resolution Board. HomeBond has offered to provide the entity with technical and administrative services to operate the remediation scheme. The details of the services to be provided will be worked out between the Pyrite Resolution Board and the entity.

Question No. 595 answered with Question No. 143.

Questions Nos. 596 and 597 answered with Question No. 592.