Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 March 2017
106. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views regarding the latest three monthly reports received by him from the Pyrite Resolution Board regarding its assessment of the operation of the scheme; if issues or trends have emerged over the course of the various reports over the years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14681/17]
View answer109. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of reports by the Pyrite Resolution Board laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas since the inception of the pyrite remediation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14684/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 109 together.
In accordance with section 9(4) of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013, the Pyrite Resolution Board, not later than 30 June in each year, shall prepare and submit to the Minister a report on the performance by it of its functions under the Act in the immediately preceding year, and the Minister shall, as soon as may be after receiving the report, cause copies of it to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. In this regard, annual reports in respect of 2014 and 2015 have been received by my Department and have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The annual report for 2016 is due not later than 30 June 2017 and will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in due course.
With regard to the quarterly progress reports provided to my Department by the Pyrite Resolution Board, it is important to note that the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provided for the making and implementation of a pyrite remediation scheme by the Pyrite Resolution Board for certain dwellings affected by significant pyritic damage. The scheme, which was first published by the Pyrite Resolution Board in early February 2014, was developed having regard to the relevant provisions of the Act and, inter alia, the recommendations set out in the Report of the Pyrite Panel (June 2012). The full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme itself which is available on the Board’s website at www.pyriteboard.ie.
The latest figures available indicate that approximately 1,593 applications have been received under the pyrite remediation scheme of which 1,197 have been approved for inclusion. The position on these 1,197 cases is as follows: -
- 235 are at remedial works planning stage,
- 47 are at tender/tender analysis,
- 90 are at decision to contract,
- 206 are under remediation, and
- 619 are complete.
A budget allocation of €22 million has been provided to fund the operation of the pyrite remediation scheme in 2017. The Board estimates that approximately 400 dwellings will be remediated or under remediation by the end of 2017, with the remaining dwellings being targeted for remediation in 2018 and thereafter if required.
Applications under the scheme continue to be received at a rate of approximately 10 per week; this rate is likely to be maintained over the course of 2017.
