Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for raising a matter that the Government knows is very sensitive because of the anxiety about harm and damage that has been caused not just to homes but to the families who live in them and who have experienced such difficulty over a number of years. It is in recognition of this that the Government put in place a scheme to try to provide support to families affected by the problem. When the scheme launched, some of the Deputies who spoke this evening welcomed it. I also understand that there are very clear issues that the Government recognises it must respond to. These relate to how we can further support all those people who have been affected by the terrible damage being done to their homes.

On the question that has been raised this evening, as I understand it, this exemption has been structured in a way that is consistent with the existing exemption in place for homes affected by pyrite. The principle of basing the exemption on the regulation issuing from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is a structure very similar to that in place for homes that have been affected by pyrite.

Opposition Deputies know that this and many other matters are being considered by a working group put in place by the Government. The constituents affected by this problem are present on the group and working with it. There is a process under way to try to bring this to a conclusion. I ask the Deputies to respect that process and allow it to conclude. In the spirit in which the matter was raised, I ask them to consider withdrawing the amendment and allowing the process to conclude. I understand the deadline is 31 July and a third meeting of the group has happened. This will be one of the matters considered.

As the Government considers the future in the context of this issue, we must be conscious of the homes affected by pyrite as well. I am informed that to date exemptions to the value of €166 million have been granted for homes affected by pyrite. It is an exemption in place for other homeowners and the proposal within the finance Bill is structured on that exemption. In the spirit of there being a process in place that considers these matters, and also in the spirit motivating Deputies Doherty and Mac Lochlainn in tabling the amendment, I ask that they withdraw it in order to allow the process to conclude. The Opposition may then form a view on the matter. We are aware of the huge harm that so many people have suffered and we are doing our best on that. We will work together to see how a comprehensive response to this can be further strengthened.

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