Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for his kind comments. I spent over four years in the Seanad with many colleagues. They were very good years.

I thank the Senator for raising this matter which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, and providing me with an opportunity to report on the progress made to date by the Pyrite Resolution Board in addressing this very difficult problem. The board, with the support of the Housing Agency, is tasked with implementing the pyrite remediation scheme in accordance with the provisions of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013. The scheme was published in February this year and the board commenced accepting applications from affected homeowners on 26 February. The scheme is reflective of the conclusions and recommendations made in the report of the independent pyrite panel and a scheme of last resort. It applies only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave and where the applicant has no practicable option other than to secure, under the scheme, the remediation of the dwelling. To date, the board has received approximately 520 completed applications which include multiple applications from 26 developments and 47 single site applications in respect of one-off builds and single applications from larger developments.

The process of approval involves a number of stages, including validation by the board of applications against the relevant eligibility criteria and an assessment, verification and recommendation process undertaken by the Housing Agency. Approximately 206 applications have been validated by the board and forwarded to the Housing Agency for the assessment, verification and recommendation process and, of these, 52 have been approved for inclusion in the scheme and the applicants notified accordingly. The assessment and verification process involves confirmation that the damage recorded in the building condition assessment in respect of a dwelling is attributable to pyritic heave. This stage may involve testing of the hard core material. While no contracts have been awarded as yet, I understand the Housing Agency is close to awarding the first remediation works contract and it is intended that this phase of the process - the awarding of contracts and the commencement of remediation works - will gather momentum in the coming months.

In line with the provisions of the Pyrite Resolution Act, the board must satisfy itself that applicants under the scheme have taken all reasonable and appropriate steps to seek to have those parties who have a responsibility to remediate their dwellings to pay the cost of remediation. In this context, the board is in discussions with a number of builders or their representatives with a view to securing funds from these sources for remediation works. However, it is not the board's policy to exclude applicants from the scheme solely because the builder is still trading or to unduly delay the remediation works in such cases. Each application will be considered by the board on its own merits and having regard to the eligibility criteria of the scheme. I am satisfied that the board will adopt a balanced approach in dealing with applicants in these circumstances, but it must also be recognised that it is incumbent on it to explore all possible avenues to ensure any funding that can be acquired for remediation purposes is secured for this purpose.

I fully support the approach being pursued by the board and look forward to continuing progress in providing solutions for affected homeowners.