Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1385. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views that the cost to the taxpayer to remediate the houses already rated damage condition rating 2, and accepted by the Pyrite Resolution Board for remediation as at June 2014, will be in the order of €35 million, and that this cost should be rightfully borne by a company (details supplied) which provided a structural guarantee to all purchasers of the subject houses, but which denied liability in August 2011. [30479/15]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1388. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide assistance, including access to such records in the possession of his Department and the Pyrite Resolution Board, to those householders who are seeking to legally challenge a company's denial of liability in the case of houses damaged by pyrite heave, and who are basing such a challenge on the Tyrell report of June 2015. [30482/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1385 and 1388 together.

HomeBond is a private limited company providing structural guarantees for new houses and, since November 2008, the HomeBond Insurance scheme is underwritten by Allianz Insurance.As is the case for any private company, its operations are a matter for its management and Board of Directors. I understand that HomeBond Insurance Services Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.As a private company, I have no role or function in its operations and cannot direct HomeBond to take a particular course of action.

My Department has made its position very clear on the issue of responsibility for providing a resolution of the pyrite problem for affected homeowners and has previously put on record its strong disagreement with the stance adopted by HomeBond in withdrawing, in August 2011, cover for pyrite-related damage.I believe that the parties identified in the

(July 2012) as having a direct or indirect responsibility for the pyrite problem should contribute to the resolution of the problem. It was against this background that my Department engaged in protracted discus sions with the key stakeholders , including HomeBond, to try and put in place a framework within which those parties could bring ab out a resolution of the problem ; regrettab ly, this did not prove possible.

Any legal actions being taken by householders in the context of the structural guarantees / insurances provided by HomeBond are civil matters between the affected parties ; my Department has no function in such matters.

However, in the context of the pyrite remediation scheme, an agreement was reached between the Pyrite Resolution Board and HomeBond in June 2014 under which HomeBond has agreed to contribute technical and project management services to the B oard to the value of €2 million .Such services include assisti ng in organising and managing t he testing of dwellings and project management of remediation contracts.HomeBond has also agreed to make available to the Pyrite Resolution Board / Housing Agency the results of testing undertaken by it prior to the operation of the scheme.

Approximately 860 applications have been received by the Pyrite Resolution Board of which almost 640 have been approved for inclusion under the pyrite remediation scheme . Ultimately, the overall cost associated with the implementation of the scheme will be determined in accordance with the public procurements, both current and projected, for the engagement of construction professionals and works contractors to undertake the remediation of the affected dwellings.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1386. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of the services already provided and agreed by his Department that will be provided by a company (details supplied) to the Pyrite Resolution Board, in relation to the remediation of houses damaged by pyritic heave; the engineering and geological qualifications of the company's personnel involved; and if these personnel have completed the Engineers Ireland courses, and are included in the Pyrite assessors and Pyrite design professionals panel. [30480/15]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1387. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a company's personnel (details supplied) have adjudicated in any audits of building condition assessments submitted to the Pyrite Resolution Board. [30481/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1386 and 1387 together.

An agreement was signed i n mid- June 2014 between the P yrite R esolution B oard and HomeBond on the voluntary contribution that HomeBond would make to the implementation / administration of the p yrite r emediation s cheme.The a greement came into immediate effect and is subject to annual review.

The a greement sets out the contribution to the value of €2million by way of staffing and services in the following areas:

-to provide assistance to the Pyrite Resolution Board;

-to arrang e for the p rovision of sampling, testing and reporting on subfloor materials;

-p roject m anagement support to the Housing Agency ; and

-the provision of a s tructural w arranty for work scompleted under the pyrite remediation scheme.

All services are being provided under the direction and supervision of the Pyrite Resolution Board and/or the Housing Agency . I n this context , it should be noted that the HomeBond staff do not mak e decisions on the eligibility of applicants under the scheme nor have they adjudicated in any audits of Building Condition Assessments provided by applicants under the pyrite remediation scheme . The auditing of Building Condition Assessments is carried out by the Board’s decision makers in accordance with the provisions of the .

I understand that two members of HomeBond have been made available to the Housing Agency and have been assigned as project managers in respect of a number of remediation projects that are currently underway.In this regard, I understand that the Housing Agency is satisfied that all personnel assigned as project managers have the necessary competence and skills to fulfil these roles appropriately.