Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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502. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the surveys being conducted as part of the pyrite remediation process in the identification of other structural defects and breaches of building regulations or standards, separate to pyrite; the remedy open to homeowners to have those problems addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45953/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The pyrite remediation scheme applies to dwellings which are affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave in the counties of Kildare, Meath, Offaly and the administrative areas of Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council. The scheme is one of “last resort” and to be included in the scheme applicants must be able to demonstrate to the Pyrite Resolution Board that they have no practicable options other than under the scheme to secure the remediation of their dwelling.

There are a number of stages involved in the application process under the pyrite remediation scheme . However, once a dwelling is included in the scheme, the Housing Agency will undertake the procurement of professional services and the establishment of remediation contracts. This will include the appointment of design professionals to survey, test, design, inspect and certify the remediation of dwellings in accordance with I.S. 398-2: 2013: Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 2: Methodology for remediation works . The purpose of the design professional’s survey is to determine and record the damage caused by pyritic heave in the affected dwelling. This allows the design professional to prepare a Remedial Works Plan specific to each dwelling. Under the Remedial Works Plan s, t he reinstatement of the building elements will normally be on a “like for like” basis relative to a standard that existed prior to the occurrence of damage caused by pyritic heave, having regard to good building practice .

It should be noted that the survey is a not full condition survey of the affected dwelling and will therefore not address any other defects, damage or substandard work, if such exists. Any such work that is observed during the survey, not attributable to pyritic heave, is outside the scope of the scheme and will not form part of the Remedial Works Plan. Any defect, damage or substandard work not attributable to pyritic heave that is of concern to a scheme participant should be investigated by his or her own building professional.