Pyrite Remediation Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 February 2015

Tuesday, 3 February 2015

Questions (558)

Clare Daly

Question:

558. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the exact circumstances in which a home owner can have his or her property remediated when the home deteriorates from a damage rating over one to one with progression within a year. [4391/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

The pyrite remediation scheme, which was published by the Pyrite Resolution Board in February of 2014, was developed having regard to the recommendations set out in the Report of the Pyrite Panel (July 2012) . The full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme which is available on the Board’s website (www.pyriteboard.ie). It is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment, carried out by a competent person in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2013, with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. There are no proposals to amend this eligibility criterion.

My Department understands that, in a number of cases, dwellings which had a Damage Condition Rating of 1 when their Building Condition Assessments were first completed have now progressed to a Damage Condition Rating of 2; these dwellings have now been included in the pyrite remediation scheme.

While dwellings with Damage Condition Ratings of 1 do not qualify under the scheme, some may be considered in accordance with the exceptional circumstance provisions set out in section 17 of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013. In broad terms, section 17 provides that exceptional circumstances may apply where:

- failure to include a dwelling with a damage rating of 1 in the scheme may result in damage to a dwelling which is being remediated under the scheme, or

- pyrite remediation work is causing or may cause damage to the dwelling with the damage rating of 1.

Where a dwelling with a Damage Condition Rating of 1 adjoins a dwelling with a Damage Condition Rating of 2, the Housing Agency will be notified and will consider if exceptional circumstances apply when the Remedial Works Plan is being drawn up; the Board will be informed of any recommendation in the matter.