Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the role he envisages for Homebond in relation to the Pyrite Resolution Board, noting that in 2011 Homebond walked away from their responsibilities to householders and if he will confirm the amount which Homebond has agreed to provide for the remediation works. [1964/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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HomeBond, in conjunction with the Construction Industry Federation and the Irish Concrete Federation, has agreed in principle to establish an entity for the purposes of operating a remediation scheme in respect of those homes affected by pyrite and where the homeowner has no other form of redress. This is a positive development which I welcome. The entity thus created will also be in a position to engage with the financial institutions in regard to the initial funding of the process which will ultimately be supported by the imposition of the levy to which the Government has committed. This approach is in line with the recommendations of the independent pyrite panel.

I am also proceeding with the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board, recommended by the independent panel, which w ill have full oversight of the operation of the remediation scheme to ensure that the public interest and the particular interest of the affected homeowners is well served.

HomeBond has also agreed to provide indirect funding for the remediation process by making technical and administrative services available at lower than market cost .

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his officials submitted a substantial number of amendments to a draft of the new NSAI standard for condition survey and testing of underfloor fill in houses damaged by pyrite induced heave, which they had participated in preparing and signed off on and the reason these amendments were submitted. [1965/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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In line with the normal practice for the development of standards in which my Department is involved, comments and proposed changes to draft I.S. 398 – Reactive Pyrite in the sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol, were submitted to the National Standards Authority of Ireland during the public enquiry period. The comments were a mixture of editorial and technical, the purpose of which was to improve the consistency and understanding of the standard.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if following testing for pyrite under the resolution process, houses are placed in the amber category with a potential for swelling, if there will be a time limit on the commitment to remediate damage which may occur. [1966/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The pyrite panel recommended that only dwellings where there is significant damage, which is confirmed by testing to be pyrite related, should be remediated. It further recommended that dwellings categorised as amber, where there is reactive pyrite in the hardcore but no associated damage, should be monitored and only remediated if they exhibit damage consistent with pyritic heave.

I.S. 398 – Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1 Testing and categorisation protocol, being developed by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), will facilitate the categorisation of dwellings.

The risk of future pyritic heave is difficult to predict due the multifaceted nature of the pyrite problem and this is alluded to in the report of the independent pyrite panel. The scope and terms of the proposed remediation scheme have not yet been developed and the inclusion of time lines for the remediation of dwellings categorised as amber may be considered as part of that process.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government noting that petrographic testing of underfloor fill in houses damaged by pyrite induced heave, has in general been completed in the UK testing costing up to 1,000 per house, if he will consider establishing facilities for such tests as part of the state laboratory facilities. [1967/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I am mindful of the need for cost effective testing to be available to homeowners, as indeed was the independent pyrite panel. In its report, the panel recommended the development of a testing and categorisation protocol which would be comprehensive but, importantly, would be cost effective. In asking the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) to develop this protocol, I advised it of the requirement for the protocol to be comprehensive and cost effective.

My Department understands that the State Laboratory ’s testing facilities and equipment are quite different to those which would be required for the testing of stone but also understands that discussions have taken place between one of the stakeholders and a third level institution with a view to providing such facilities. I would welcome this development and hope that it would lead to the provision of cost effective testing facilities in Ireland.