Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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371. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the moneys which have been allocated to the pyrite remediation scheme for 2017; the amount of this which has been spent in 2017 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9876/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency. The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. The scheme is applicable to dwellings which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave established in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2013 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol. In addition, applicants under the scheme must be able to demonstrate to the Board that they have no practicable options, other than under the scheme, to secure the remediation of their homes.

A sum of €22 million was announced under Budget 2017 to fund the operation of the pyrite remediation scheme in 2017 of which €3.1 million has already been drawn-down by the Housing Agency. This allocation will build on the 553 dwellings already remediated under the scheme and is a clear signal of the continuing importance attached by Government to addressing the issue of significant pyritic damage in private dwellings. It is envisaged that an additional 400 dwellings will be either remediated or under remediation by end 2017.