Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the problems currently being experienced by hundreds of householders in the State in relation to the mineral pyrite being found in their homes; the structural damage that this can cause to buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22024/07]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he plans to introduce regulations requiring all infill material to be chemically analysed before being used in the construction of houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22025/07]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he plans to conduct a full and comprehensive investigation into the use of pyrite by building developers in constructing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22026/07]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the structural damage that can be caused by pyrite used in the construction of buildings; if he plans to conduct a full investigation in order to ascertain the location of homes or buildings in which pyrite may have been used in their construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22027/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 to 263, inclusive, together.

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 1150, 1151, 1153, 1155 and 1167 of 26 September 2007, in which I comprehensively addressed this issue.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the details of any initiative he may undertake in order to ensure that building regulations are fully complied with by those involved in the construction industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22028/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Building Control Act 1990 assigns primary responsibility for complying with the Building Regulations to the owners and builders of buildings. Responsibility for enforcement of the Regulations is vested in the 37 local Building Control Authorities, who are empowered to carry out inspections of buildings and initiate enforcement action, where appropriate.

The Building Control Act 2007 contains provision, inter alia, to strengthen the enforcement powers of local Building Control Authorities. The Act introduces the option for local Building Control Authorities to bring summary prosecutions for all building code offences in the District Court, rather than by way of prosecution on indictment by the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Circuit Court. Authorities will also have wider powers to make application to the High Court or the Circuit Court to secure Orders where buildings do not comply with the requirements of the Building Regulations. The maximum penalties for breaches of the Regulations have been substantially increased under the Act, from £800 (punts) to €5,000 on summary conviction; from £150 (punts) to €500 in respect of each day on which the offence is committed after summary conviction; and from £10,000 (punts) to €50,000 on conviction on indictment.

Moreover, Building Control Authorities will be able to recoup costs incurred in taking enforcement action and to obtain the benefit of fines resulting from summary prosecutions brought by them.

I will be making the necessary Commencement Order for the above provisions of the Building Control Act 2007 this month.