Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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567. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to address the needs of householders with properties with a pyrite damage rating of category 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18220/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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The pyrite remediation scheme, which was first published by the Pyrite Resolution Board in February of 2014, was developed having regard to, inter alia, the recommendations set out in the (July 2012) and the relevant provisions of the . The full conditions for eligibility are set out in the scheme, which is available on the Board’s website (). It is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment, carried out by a competent person in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2013 Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol, with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. I have no proposals to amend this eligibility criterion.

The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” which aims to repair homes affected with substantial damage and is targeted to assist a restricted group of homeowners who have no other practicable options to access redress.

My Department understands that, in a number of cases, dwellings which had a Damage Condition Rating of 1 when their Building Condition Assessments were first completed have now progressed to a Damage Condition Rating of 2; these dwellings have now been included in the pyrite remediation scheme.

While dwellings with Damage Condition Ratings of 1 do not qualify under the scheme, some may be considered in accordance with the exceptional circumstance provisions set out in section 17 of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013. Section 17 provides that exceptional circumstances may apply where -

- failure to include a dwelling with a damage rating of 1 in the scheme may result in damage to a dwelling which is being remediated under the scheme, or

- pyrite remediation work is causing or may cause damage to the dwelling with the damage rating of 1.

Where a dwelling with a Damage Condition Rating of 1 adjoins a dwelling with a Damage Condition Rating of 2, the Housing Agency will be notified and will consider if exceptional circumstances apply when the Remedial Works Plan is being drawn up; the Board will be informed of any recommendation for a decision in the matter.