Mr. John O'Connor:

I counted nine questions so we will try to address them as best we can. The Deputy asked why certain areas were specified. This goes back to trying to target where the problem exists and where it is most severe. The legislation does not specify areas but it does allow the pyrite board, in terms of making the scheme with the approval of the Minister, to confine it to certain areas where there is evidence that the problem existed. The problem does not exist nationwide. It can be identified as involving a defined number of quarries in a relatively defined area of the country. The pyrite board considered it better to start off and define the areas where we saw the problem properly identified, taking account of the evidence presented to the pyrite panel. Noel Carroll was a member of the panel and he will add to what I have said.

We had evidence in respect of certain areas and 600 applications came in - a small number came from Dún Laoghaire and south Dublin. We looked at the evidence in detail to ascertain if damage was caused by pyrite and if there was any way to address it other than the taxpayer having to pay for it. We came to the conclusion the scheme should be extended to include these areas because there was a genuine issue here. The board extended the scheme and the Minister approved this last week. If corresponding evidence arises for areas beyond those covered at present the board will look at that. It is not a closed shop.

We dealt with block work and concrete product in reply to Deputy James Bannon. The Deputy asked how many houses had been done and the answer is five. We did a pilot project of five dwellings to test the system - the drawing up of contracts and remediation plans, consultation with occupants, getting them to vacate premises etc. There are many stages to be undergone. It might appear slow initially because we have in operation for a year and have only completed five but we are progressing. Five are finished satisfactorily, on time and within the budget. We have contracts in place with another 20 to be followed by further contracts in the months ahead and the numbers will increase. We will draw up remedial work plans - one does not just give a builder a job, plans must be drawn up by an engineer and so on. We can go into more detail on the process if members wish. We are putting in place a schedule of work, grouping individual applications into viable projects. We are not doing one house jobs. They are grouped giving the engineer a remit to draw up the plans for the required remediation work, moving on to the tender stage, getting the person to vacate the dwelling and then on to doing the work. There is a lot happening but it is going a bit under the radar in terms of numbers completed.

The Deputy asked about costs. We are in the middle of tendering at the moment. I am reluctant to go into details about costs as the information is commercially sensitive. I have no trouble sharing cost information in private with the committee but I do not wish to prejudice ongoing commercial tendering.