Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I had the benefit of hearing some of the presentation and commentary on screen. As I might have missed something in transit while I was coming to the committee room, I ask the delegates to forgive me if I ask something that has been covered.

I raise, in particular, the issue of pyrite that has been found more recently in private and local authority homes in County Mayo. Pyrite is appearing in blocks; it is not pyrite heave which is within the board's remit and on which I have made representations. I do not know the extent and scale of the problem, but I have asked some parliamentary questions, like my colleague. I imagine there are people who do not know what they are dealing with in terms of the problems with their blockwork. To what extent has the board been asked to look at this as a problem? Ms Neary has explained that there are building regulations relating to blockwork, but the reality I have found in dealing with individuals in respect of one-off houses and estates is that the same constraints, restrictions and inability applies in pursuing those responsible for supplying faulty goods in the first place. Some people did not know who had supplied the foundations, for example.

Watching the pyrite issue evolve and the establishment of the board, my understanding was that people would be compensated as a last resort when all legal avenues were exhausted. The word "pyrite" only became current in County Mayo recently, but the same problems are facing people in finding a solution. There is a great need to assist them on the issue of pyrite in blockwork. I say this notwithstanding what Ms Neary has said. In the past few years the building regulations have been tightened, as have the standards of workmanship, etc. that we expect. We are talking, however, about houses that were built before the regulations were tightened. We are postponing the inevitable, as the people I know do not have the means to fix this massive problem. If the scheme could be extended on foot of the precedent in respect of pyrite heave, it would only be fair to those with pyrite problems in their blockwork. They should equally be brought into a scheme and assisted to solve a problem that is becoming more evident in County Mayo.