Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 December 2017
267. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 518 of 6 December 2017, the cost of services stated to be provided by a company (details supplied) to deal with defects not associated with pyrite; and the reason these costs are not borne by a scheme. [53459/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra268. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 518 of 6 December 2017, the reason €975,000 has been accumulated from a company (details supplied) in services for 1,400 houses verified for acceptance into the pyrite remediation scheme with 900 of those completely remediated. [53460/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 268 together.
The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board, with support from the Housing Agency. The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. 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.
The scheme is applicable to dwellings, which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave, established in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2013 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol. In this regard, it is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. Dwellings which do not have a Damage Condition Rating of 2 are not eligible to apply under the scheme. This ensures that, having regard to the available resources, the focus of the scheme is on dwellings which are most severely damaged by pyritic heave.
A Supplemental Agreement was entered into with HomeBond, dated 4 December 2015, for dealing with structural defects not related to pyritic heave. In this context, my Department understands from the Pyrite Resolution Board that €52,000 has been expended to date under this agreement.
In regard to the specific arrangements under the Homebond agreement referred to, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the Board is independent in the performance of its functions, and as Minister, I have no role in the operational matters pertaining to the implementation of the scheme. However my Department understands that in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the Housing Agency implements the remediation process and undertakes the procurement of professional services, remediation contracts and agreements.
The Board may be contacted by phone at Lo call 1890 252842 or by email to info@pyriteboard.ie or alternatively at oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie. The Housing Agency may be contacted at publicreps@housingagency.ie .
