Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I visited a number of homes where pyrite has had a devastating effect on the structures. I agree with Deputy Higgins that when people decided to buy their home and apply for a mortgage, they found themselves in a situation where, with interest rate increases, it was difficult enough to meet those demands, particularly when house prices were so inflated. Situations have arisen where cracks appear in the floor or the gable, running right across ceilings. Measurements taken over a period of months have shown a deterioration, where doors must be removed and door saddles taken up and where floors have risen by up to six inches. I have seen these houses and I know the frustration and devastation it causes to people. It happened through no fault of their own. In some cases the HomeBond facility was able to come to the rescue where contractors dug out foundations and replaced those that contained pyrite, which expands when mixed with cement and water.

There was a recent High Court case on this. I am concerned at the number of people affected. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, along with the Minister of State in the Department with responsibility for housing, Deputy Penrose, will study the impact and conclusions of the High Court case. I do not want to see a situation where people are in houses that show serious cracks in gables. The measures show in a number of cases that the houses are deteriorating. This is a cause of constant angst and pressure for those families who find themselves in a situation like this. The Minister and Minister of State, along with Deputy McEntee, the Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who has been meeting representative groups over the last number of years, will be prepared to meet a representative group from those affected and acquaint them with the Department's analysis of the High Court case. I would like to see people who bought their houses in good faith being proud to live in those houses.

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