Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 March 2014
368. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a panel of approved surveyors recommended by the Pyrite Resolution Board; his views on the costs; if he will advise on whether a deal has been done to keep the cost as low as possible for the homeowner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11906/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pyrite Resolution Board has not set up a panel of approved surveyors and it is not the Board’s intention to do so. In accordance with the provisions of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 and under the terms of the pyrite remediation scheme, each application must be accompanied, inter alia, by a Building Condition Assessment which must be carried out by a competent person. A competent person is defined in the Act as a person having sufficient theoretical and practical training, experience and knowledge appropriate to the nature of the work to be undertaken.
I understand that a number of training courses have been provided by one of the representative bodies in relation to the professional services that will be required during the course of the remediation process and in that context Engineers Ireland has set up a register of competent persons who have undertaken appropriate training in respect of carrying out Building Condition Assessments and overseeing remediation works.
The costs associated with procuring Building Condition Assessments are determined by market forces. Neither my Department nor the Pyrite Resolution Board has any function in such matters. The pyrite remediation scheme provides for the reimbursement to the homeowner of the cost of procuring a Building Condition Assessment subject to a maximum of €500 and the indications are that this figure is substantially meeting the costs involved.
