Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2139. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to problems with the traffic light system used to assess homes affected by pyrite by the Pyrite Resolution Board; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that home owners of homes assessed as amber are unable to sell their homes in view of the fact banks will not give mortgages for pyrite affected homes and buyers are reluctant to purchase pyrite affected homes; his plans to resolve this problem; the position regarding the review of the scheme undertaken by the National Standards Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26596/17]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2140. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will examine a case concerning persons (details supplied) that have been unable to sell their pyrite affected home after it was assessed as amber by the Pyrite Resolution Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26597/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2139 and 2140 together.

The (June 2012) recommended a categorisation system as a means of prioritising pyrite remediation works in recognition of the expensive and intrusive nature of pyrite remediation and the unpredictability of pyritic heave.  The independent Pyrite Panel was clear in its view that only dwellings with significant damage due to pyritic heave (i.e. red category) should be remediated and that it would be unreasonable to expect dwellings not exhibiting such damage to be remediated.  Dwellings which have no significant damage but have reactive pyrite in the hardcore material (i.e. amber category) should be monitored and only remediated if they display significant damage due to pyritic heave.  This remains the position with regard to dwellings, which do not display significant pyritic damage.

In response to this recommendation, I.S. 398-1:2013 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and Categorisation was published by the National Standards Authority of Ireland in late January 2013, and provides the means by which dwellings, which may be affected by pyrite can be tested and categorised.  In broad terms, the national standard sets out a two-step process to facilitate the testing and categorisation of dwellings.

The first step requires that a Building Condition Assessment be carried out; this comprises a desktop study and a visual non-invasive internal and external inspection of a dwelling to establish the presence or absence of visible damage that is consistent with pyritic heave and to quantify the extent and significance of such damage in that dwelling.  Damage ratings of 0, 1 or 2 can be assigned to a dwelling under this process.

The second step involves the sampling and testing of the sub-floor hardcore material and is informed by the assignment of the Damage Condition Rating under the Building Condition Assessment process.  At the conclusion of this two-step process, buildings may be categorised under I.S. 398-1:2013 into four categories which are broadly consistent with the traffic light system that was used by the Pyrite Panel as a means of prioritising pyrite remediation works.

The provides for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme by the Pyrite Resolution Board for certain dwellings affected by significant pyrite damage.  The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope.  The full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme, which is available on the Board’s website ().

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.  It is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2.  Dwellings which do not have a Damage Condition Rating of 2 are not eligible to apply under the scheme.  There are no proposals to amend the eligibility criteria.

In late 2015, the National Standards Authority of Ireland commenced a review of I.S. 398-1:2013 in the light of practical experience since the standard was first introduced in January 2013.  The standard is being updated and revised to reflect the on-site experiences and evidence gathered by technical experts, such as engineers, geologists, professionals providing sampling and testing services and other technical experts, who have been using the standard over the past four years.  A public consultation on the revision of I.S. 398-1:2013, took place in late 2016.  My Department understands that it is anticipated that the revised standard will be published later this year.