Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy highlights a difficulty. The recommendation and plan was that the scheme should be there to fund homes which had significant damage and required immediate attention. That is happening. There is also the issue of a number of houses which have signs of or which have tested positive for pyrite but where there is no significant damage. We have had this conversation and we have put this on the table in other places. It is clear that to spend up to €70,000 on a house which is not yet showing damage and which does not yet require attention is not the best use of money for which there are competing demands. As the Deputy states, however, there is a category of people who are in limbo. We have discussed the matter ourselves. I have been unable to find a way to deal with that matter but we are open to suggestions. We do not plan to reopen the scheme to do that but we have tried to work through different solutions with different people. The issue relating to the date has been addressed through legal advice and I have met the chairperson of the board and her staff in order to provide clarity. That will help some of those who have made appeals and who ought to have known the closing off date of 2013.

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