Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if any regeneration project has encountered problems with pyrite; if so, the locations of same; if the problem has been rectified; the cost of same and the budget from which it was taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12948/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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My Department is aware of one regeneration project, Ballymun regeneration, where higher than acceptable levels of pyrite have been discovered at three locations. These include the Ballymun Central Youth Facility, a new 124-unit apartment complex at Sillogue 4 and completed and tenanted units at Poppintree 5.

Following the discovery of elevated levels of pyrite in the hardcore fill for the Youth Facility building, remedial works costing an estimated €1.25 million were carried out by the contractor. These works were satisfactorily completed in accordance with the terms of the contract and at no extra cost to the Exchequer.

In the case of the apartment complex at Sillogue 4, extensive remediation works are deemed necessary to address the pyrite problems at this new development. The regeneration company, with the support of my Department, has been engaging with the contractor to identify the optimum solution to the problem. As this is a live contract, it is envisaged that the remedial works will be carried out under the terms of the contract and at no additional cost to the Exchequer.

My Department was recently notified of a potential pyrite problem at a completed and tenanted development at Poppintree 5. The regeneration company, together with Dublin City Council, is currently conducting more detailed surveys with a view to establishing the full extent of the problem and the nature and scale of the remedial works which will be required to deal with it. As soon as all the facts have been established, the regeneration company will put measures in place to ensure that residents are fully informed of the extent of the problems and the solutions to be put in place to address these.