Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Deputy was in that corner of the alley when he made that comment. The Deputy Higgins's figures are a bit out of line with regard to a cost of from €2,000 to €3,000. The figures I have seen for the rectification of some of these problems are of the order of €70,000 or €80,000. The foundations must be taken out completely and replaced with pyrite free material and the structure must be rectified afterwards.

The Minister is responsible for the working group and I am sure he will ensure homeowners are represented on it. I am also sure he will set a timeframe for coming back with an analysis of the scale of the problem and how it might be dealt with. I will not comment with regard to whether a remediation scheme can be put together but it is necessary to discover the true scale of the problem first. I have had some interaction with the Minister. I will pass on to him the points made by the Deputy on the working group and I am sure he will take them into account. It is a daily concern for those who have pride in their homes but have found something has happened over which they have no control.

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