Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their submissions and their time here today. I would not be so familiar with mica and the issues that people are suffering in Donegal, Mayo and Clare because it is not really prevalent or even existent in my own county, as far as I know, but when there is a hugely expensive scheme such as this, at over €2.2 billion to assist people, I have no doubt there will be examples of where it is working and examples of where it is not working. I think that is in the nature of this kind of scheme, which is dealing with so many bespoke situations.

We are not given the size of a standard house on a standard site. Obviously, there are going to be difficulties with the scheme, which is relatively new. The legislation was only introduced a year and a half ago.

I want to ask a couple of questions that have arisen from the experiences of others who are from those counties. We have dealt with this quite a bit in the housing committee as well. I am the Chair of that committee. It is slightly unusual for me to be in the Chair at the finance committee dealing with housing committee officials.

Mr. Rafferty referred to the preliminary findings on pyrrhotite. There has been research and some findings have been made. Given that people are waiting to hear about the findings , does Mr. Rafferty think that could instil a reluctance to enter into the scheme and that people are holding back until they find out the results in respect of foundations, etc.? That is the discussion we have had at the housing committee. When does Mr. Rafferty think it would be likely that we would have some published guidance on that or when will the findings of the research be available?