Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 December 2013
236. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the pyrite remediation scheme is isolated to dwellings in the five local authority areas of Fingal, Dublin city, Meath, Kildare and Offaly; the options that are available to persons affected by pyrite problems in other counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51315/13]
View answerIn September 2011, I established an independent panel to consider options for a resolution of the problem of pyrite in the sub-floor hardcore material which had manifested itself in dwellings in a small number of local authority areas. The Panel undertook a desktop study, in conjunction with stakeholder consultation, to establish certain facts in relation to the potential exposure to pyrite problems. The information was gathered from a number of sources including local authorities, structural guarantee providers, representatives of homeowners, private builders, construction professionals and public representatives and was cross referenced to verify, as far as practicable, its validity.
Seventy four estates were identified to the Pyrite Panel as possibly having pyrite in the sub-floor hardcore of the dwellings therein. All of these estates are located in the five local authority areas of Dublin City, Fingal, Kildare, Meath and Offaly. I understand that the Pyrite Panel was not made aware of any instances of pyrite in hardcore material occurring outside of those five local authority areas at the time of the report’s compilation.
The Pyrite Panel’s report provides the framework for the proposed remediation scheme and the eligibility criteria for the scheme will be reflective of the conclusions and recommendations of the report. The scheme will only apply where a dwelling is affected by significant damage due to pyritic heave and where this is established in accordance with the relevant Irish Standard 398-1:2013 Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material-Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol, published by the National Standards Authority of Ireland. In addition, applicants under the scheme will need to demonstrate that they have no other viable options to seek redress.
In general, building defects are matters for resolution between the contracting parties, the homeowner, the builder, the supplier and/or their respective insurers and in the event that the parties cannot reach a settlement by negotiation the option of seeking redress in the Courts is available.
