Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan. Following Government decisions of 18 December 2012 and 30 April 2013, work commenced in my Department on developing the legislation required to provide for the funding of a pyrite remediation scheme and the necessary structures to deliver an effective and efficient remediation process.

Developing the structures necessary to deliver a remediation scheme has proved challenging, and several legal difficulties arose over the summer months which required detailed and thorough consideration. Inevitably, these difficulties have led to a delay in the drafting of the legislation, with a consequent delay in the Pyrite Resolution Board accepting applications from eligible home owners. While it was the Minister's intention to have the legislation published and enacted by now, this has not been possible. We are committed to ensuring these issues are resolved as a matter of urgency and, in that context, he will be bringing proposals to Government shortly.

In the meantime, the Pyrite Resolution Board has been getting on with its work, including developing an online application and processing system. While there has been some slippage in the timeline as originally envisaged, the board is committed to having the system operable as quickly as possible. However, it would not be appropriate for the board to accept applications in advance of the necessary structures and legislation being in place.

In addition to the work being undertaken on the online application system, the board is also working on developing appropriate structures and systems for the delivery of remediation programmes.

It is highly important that proper systems, with appropriate checks and balances, are developed and put in place to ensure that effective and efficient programmes of remediation are delivered to affected homeowners. Cognisant of the need to give affected homeowners as much detail and guidance as possible on the proposed pyrite remediation scheme, the pyrite resolution board, shortly after its establishment, established a website, www.pyriteboard.ie, to which Senator Byrne referred. The website provides valuable information for affected homeowners, setting out a summary of the proposed scheme, the qualification criteria and the various steps that will be involved in the remediation process.

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, is acutely aware of the long wait that many affected homeowners have had to endure in waiting for solutions to the pyrite problems in their homes. The time since the pyrite problem first arose has not been easy for affected homeowners and the Minister understands how stressful such situations can be. Against this background, the Minister is determined to provide workable solutions and wishes to assure those homeowners that he will continue to attach the utmost priority to providing the structures necessary to deliver a practical resolution to the pyrite problem as early as possible. It is the very least these homeowners deserve.