Seanad debates

Thursday, 17 October 2013

Adjournment Matters

Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation

1:45 pm

Photo of Averil PowerAveril Power (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is right that some of the homes that were fixed by the developers were covered by insurance but as he knows well many were not. Some families that have been in touch with me told me how the insurance covered the building works but would not cover the testing which costs €3,000 and they were left to pay that bill. Nobody suggests that the State should reimburse people for work that has already been covered by a builder or insurance policy.

The problem is that there are families who are in extra debt because they had to do the work, not because they could afford to do it or because it was easy for them. They had to remortgage their home or take out other loans to pay for it. It is unfair that such families will not be covered by the scheme. I urge the Minister to revisit the issue in advance of the legislation being drawn up. I will make the point, as will colleagues on all sides, when the legislation comes before the House.

I welcome the Minister's commitment to revisit the levy when court cases are concluded. That is important. If there is any way of recovering some of the money for the taxpayer it should be done. The other issues I raised are all questions that have been asked publicly in the past 24 hours since the scheme was announced. If the Minister is not in a position to answer them now he might correspond with me in writing.

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