Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on the experience of the pyrite panel group in dealing with pyrite contamination of hard-core. [30545/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I am satisfied that the people selected for the panel seeking to facilitate a resolution of the pyrite contamination issue have the necessary experience and qualifications for this task. My Department will provide them with any required technical and administrative support.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will introduce regulations to require quarries supplying aggregate to complete compulsory chemical testing to ensure that fill containing heave-inducing pyrite is detected and not used under concrete floors. [30546/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Regulations are already in place for the testing of aggregates. The Construction Products Directive provides for a system of harmonised technical specifications for construction products. IS EN 13242:2002 is a harmonised European Product Standard for "Aggregates for unbound and hydraulically bound materials" for use in civil engineering work and road construction. IS EN 13242:2002 was published by National Standards Authority of Ireland (NASI) in 2002 and came into effect in January 2003: it sets out the rules for producers to demonstrate conformity with the standard. It requires initial type testing before an aggregate is placed on the market, and these tests to be repeated if the aggregate comes from a new source, if there is a major change in raw materials or when the aggregate is to conform to a new requirement.

Standard Recommendation (SR) 21, published by NSAI in 2004, provides guidance on the use of IS EN 13242:2002. SR 21 was revised in 2007 to give additional specific guidance on reducing the risk of reactive forms of pyrite being present in material fill for use under concrete floors in dwellings and buildings.

Part C (Site Preparation and Resistance to Moisture) of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations sets out the legal requirements for Site Preparation and Resistance to Moisture. Regulation 3 stipulates that "the floors, walls and roof of a building shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the passage of moisture to the inside of the building or damage to the fabric of the building." The related Technical Guidance Document - C (TGD) provides general guidance on hardcore. TGD C was amended in 2007 to take cognisance of the additional guidance given in SR 21.