Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman and Deputy Calleary very much. I think we are on the same page with much of this. This afternoon has been really interesting. I thank all the witnesses for their submissions. Coming from County Mayo, a number of questions are still outstanding for me. One thing that really struck me was when Mr. O'Connell said we are working in a live laboratory situation. The challenge for us is that we are approving or helping to finalise a scheme that needs to be able to cope with that and be flexible enough. I think we will find this in blocks and foundations in Erris and Belmullet when we go into County Mayo. We know for a fact that foundations have been built with the same blocks that were used to build houses that have been certified as having pyrite in them. We cannot reconcile the fact that the blocks would be different in the foundations than when used to build houses that have pyrite.

This is my main question. What flexibilities do the witnesses recommend we work into the scheme so that when we come to the point when the foundations need to be replaced, whether it be in weeks or months, we can do so within the terms of the scheme? By the same token, in terms of the total rebuilds that are needed, again, that has been verified across the board in County Mayo. Obviously, we are accumulating evidence all the time. With any of the homes I have seen, I have witnessed people trying to repair their homes over the last ten years and I have seen what has happened through the months and years. To me, the repairs have been useless. Who will be responsible for signing off on these homes if the work that is being done is perhaps not as insurable and is not then fit for purpose if it is proven to be the wrong decision in terms of the options that are chosen? My two main questions then are on foundations and in terms of the total rebuilds that are needed and who will be responsible for signing off on that